ST. LOUIS – The start of the school year is an exciting time, but this year has been a bigger hassle than usual for St. Louis Public Schools as the district combats budget and student commute issues.
The school system dispersed gas cards and utilized public transportation and even school employees to pick up and drop off students. An ambassador was appointed at each school to give feedback on the school’s overall efficiency, including meals, cleanliness of buildings, and route efficiencies.
“Transportation continues to be a national issue, and we appreciate our SLPS team that includes students, staff, parents, and board members in finding solutions to our community,” Interim Superintendent Millicent Borishade said at the start of Tuesday’s school board meeting.
With an 88% attendance rate of a projected 19,000-plus students, initial issues around transit routes, large metro crowds at pickup, and bus technology upgrades for wheelchairs have been reported by these ambassadors in the first two weeks of school.
“There were some concerns with some of the alternative vendors, just making sure they have decals identifiers, those issues have been addressed,” Square Watson, SLPS Chief Operations Officer, told the board.
Officials are creating an action plan from this information and working out kinks – if it’s excused absence when a student missing school to a vendor’s vehicle breaking down, and when students can expect to be back on their normal buses. School board vice president Matt Davis asked Dr. Borishade at one point to clarify a timeline on when students can expect to be back on their “traditional yellow buses” and if it would be after Labor Day. Borishade confirmed.
Board leaders are also meeting with the hired alternative bus vendors Friday to discuss this feedback as well as on time performance, safety, and protocols for transporting students. Parents have reported that they’ve had difficulties communicating with the school board, but the board stands firm that the best way to contact them is to call your child’s school principal, stating that they will get back to you. Parents should expect to have an update by Friday, August 30. After Labor Day, school officials will disclose additional information.
