'Consistent Lateness' On Some LTHS Bus Routes

La Grange IL

23 May, 2022

8:58 AM

Description

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School has found no solution to ensure buses make it to school on time on late start Wednesdays, an official says. At a meeting last week, the school board voted to change the beginning time for late start Wednesdays to 9:15 p.m. next year, rather than the existing 8:45 p.m. With this new time, the school's bus contractor says it can get students to school on time, officials said. The contractor, First Student, has struggled with the current time because it also serves area elementary school districts, said Scott Eggerding, director of curriculum. "We've had as many as 20 of our 34 buses arrive after 8:45, which is the start of school," Eggerding told the board. "We have very consistent lateness almost to the minute from certain routes, with five to six not coming until nine o'clock." Depending on where students' classes are, they can miss 20 minutes or more, he said. "We've talked to our bus company," Eggerding said. "We've tried all sorts of creative solutions, and honestly, the more we look at the distances that those buses that are late tend to come from, the more we see this as a real concern about equity in students getting there." Eggerding said delaying the Wednesday start time wasn't "our favorite solution." But other than the school buying its own buses, which he called "almost incomprehensible," it really only had the option of delaying the start time, he said.