Columbia Basin school bus routes have few changes

New routines for Moses Lake students

COLUMBIA BASIN - School districts in Grant and Adams counties are maintaining bus routes similar to last year.

Quincy School District Superintendent Burton Dickerson said Quincy has not adjusted routes as a means to offset gas prices.

"All along, we've put forth efforts to make sure our routes are run in an efficient way," Dickerson said.

In fact, Dickerson was unaware of any route changes in the district.

Warden School District Superintendent Sandra Sheldon said one route was combined with another route to save on diesel.

"All the parents and students have been notified," Sheldon said.

She said the school district was able to combine the routes without making it too long of a bus ride and while maintaining safety.

Othello School District Assistant Superintendent Mike Villarreal said all routes and stops are identical to last year.

Any route changes will take place after the first week of school, Villarreal said.

Moses Lake School District Transportation Manager John Eschenbacher said Moses Lake's routes are nearly the same as last year.

"We try not to make huge changes in the summer when we can't talk to people," Eschenbacher said.

A later dismissal time at Chief Moses Middle School impacted the bus system, as well as the addition of portables at the school, he said.

Because of growth in the district, some sixth-grade students who would otherwise attend Frontier Middle School this fall will start school at Chief Moses Middle School.

The students will board the bus at their normal stops, then take a shuttle bus from Moses Lake High School to Chief Moses Middle School.

When school starts, some adjustments may be made to bus stops, Eschenbacher noted.

Some routes previously making more than one trip were streamlined, made possible by a change to Chief Moses' dismissal time, Eschenbacher said.

Previously, the five buses experienced a 40-minute wait time between picking up Chief Moses students and picking up elementary school students. Now, buses can head to Lakeview Terrace Elementary School or Garden Heights Elementary School as soon as middle-school students board, Eschenbacher said.

"This will save some trips on a few (routes)," he said.

He was unsure how much fuel the district would save as a result of the changes. The district pays approximately $4.37 per gallon for diesel fuel and burns about 115,000 gallons per year, he said.

"When it's these prices, it's half a million (dollars) to run buses," he said.

The fleet drives approximately 780,000 miles each year, he noted.

Eschenbacher anticipated next year would bring more changes to routes, spurred by the opening of Sage Point Elementary School.

The current Moses Lake School District bus routes are available online at www.columbiabasinherald.com/bus.