Once Again, Bus Routes Dominate Snowflake School Board’s Agenda

By Naomi Hatch
   Bus routes for the Snowflake School District were on the governing board’s agenda again Nov. 12.
   “I’ll give a quick review of how we got to this situation” said Superintendent Hollis Merrell. “The board is very aware that in the spring they had to make major budget cuts just like everyone else in the State of Arizona.” He noted that many things were eliminated, including positions, benefits and stipends, and bus service suffered cutbacks.
   Merrell explained that the main issue with the group present at the meeting is that buses are not going off the road to pick up students. He said that in talking with other superintendents, he found that many of their districts are doing the same.
   Merrell said he and Mike Robinson have driven that area, noting, “Unless we’re willing to reinstate and come up with $80,000, I would not recommend we go off the highways. We do have a possible solution for the area represented here on Highway 277. We have a solution that will make that a safer stop, similar to maybe what we did on Paper Mill Road.”
   Robinson said his bus drivers said the program is working.
   “As far as Paper Mill, Concho and Highway 277, we had no incidents at all,” said Robinson in response to concerns that cars were passing buses. He noted that his drivers said that when the bus starts to move people, go around it, but that is after kids are unloaded. “I’ve had to drive that route and had no problems at all,” he said.
   Robinson suggested they use Indian Pottery that is just down the road, rather than Highland, and the bus could pull totally off the road to load and unload kids.
   “Certainly this isn’t something anyone was excited about doing, it’s not an exciting thing to eliminate positions and benefits,” said Merrell.
   Referring to a complaint that the bus picks up a special needs student at his home, Merrell said, “We’re required by law to do that, and not required by law to transport any other students, but we certainly do so,” noting that they haven’t provided services off the highway in some areas such as Concho Road for some time.
   Robinson explained that they would send a letter home with all the kids that get off that stop, giving parents an opportunity to express their opinion regarding moving the stop from Highland to Indian Pottery.
   Merrell said that previously they had made a change for parents present at a meeting that upset another group of parents, so they want to make sure this would be agreeable.
   Board President Travis Tenney asked those present if using Indian Pottery would be agreeable. Most present agreed, but one man was so upset he chose to leave.
   Judy Forbes said, “I don’t have a problem with going to Indian Pottery,” but she said that someone is willing to grade the parking lot so kids would have a place almost out of the wind and they could turn the bus around and go right back on the road.
   “There’s also the option about the bus stop signs. What did you find out about that?” asked Forbes.
   “As far as what’s been happening out there, this lady (referring to a lady in the audience) went out and stopped a car from going past the bus stop. A week ago a gentleman went out and stopped a truck from going around. My concern is the kids,” said Forbes.
   Freda Grubbs said, “I’m the one that is standing out there, that says you do it I’ll make sure you don’t have a license again.” She said she felt one of their issues is the cattle guard. “The bus route…it’s got us all tore up. It is a big concern and all we’re asking is take the bus off the roadway so our children aren’t in danger.”
   Calvert Shumway had Department of Public Safety Officer Keith Anderson on his cell phone, and he spoke about the area near the Snowflake-Taylor Y where the speed limit is 65 mph and the line of sight isn’t very good if you’re coming over the hill. Anderson had not heard the previous discussion. He expressed concern that there was no signage and suggested they make pullouts so the bus can get completely off road, and post for bus stop locations or go a little into the neighborhoods for kids so they are not stopping on the highway.
   “We already had one person struck and killed on the highway out there. I think this whole community would be devastated if a child was hit,” said Anderson.
   The officer said his squad is getting complaints from people all over, not just Snowflake, noting “this is just one of the bad ones.”
   Shumway, whose children currently don’t ride the bus, said he would not allow them to get on the bus right there. He explained the difficulties of driving an 18-wheeler, stating, “Part of the reason I don’t drive now is because I don’t want to run somebody over.” He said he felt moving to Indian Pottery would give traffic coming east less time to see the bus, and stated, “We need that school bus off the road. I don’t care where you take it.
   “You’re talking about $80,000 and I can’t see where you’re saving $80,000. You’re jeopardizing the kids’ lives because you’re going to cause a wreck out there,” said Shumway.
   Tenney explained, “It’s not $80,000 for that one stop, it’s $80,000 because if we do it at one spot, then we have to address every issue in the district. I understand what you’re saying. I think you have to remember we are proposing to take the bus off the highway at Indian Pottery.”
   Referring to a comment by Shumway that one of the board members needs to climb up in a big rig, Tenney said he has a CDL and drove a Tempe bus for years. “I am very aware of how you have to be safe driving a school bus. You’re not talking to your enemies,” he said.
   Merrell said he spoke with Arizona Department of Transportation officials previously about signage, and said it’s not easy to put signs up because ADOT has rules it must follow. He said he had not checked into that particular stop, but would do so.
   David Boone offered to push gravel up to the highway and compact it, and said he had equipment to clear that area and make it so the bus could just pull off there.
   “It sounds like if we work together, this is a win/win situation,” said Tenney. “We’ve brought this back on the agenda three times because we do care about it; we could have said we’re done with it, it’s a final decision. I hope you guys realize we’re not your enemies. We are concerned and we do care. We appreciate your input.”
   Merrell said, “We’ll research both of those situations. If there is a pullout created, certainly that’s something we’d look at, too.”
   In other action Nov. 12, the board:
   * Held the first reading of policy changes recommended by the Arizona School Boards Association.
   Merrell explained the proposed changes are due to new legislation.
   * Unanimously approved the School Facilities Board Preventive Maintenance Program, which is an annual program that must be submitted to the State.
   The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3, rather than Dec. 10, because Merrell will be meeting with the legislators as chairman of the NavApache Superintenden