The school board voted to eliminate bus service for 864 elementary students living within walking distance starting January 17, intensifying conflicts with bus drivers and parents over transportation, labor conditions, and decision-making power.
The board voted to eliminate bus service for 864 elementary students living within walking distance starting January 17, 2025, after rotational coverage failed; forty-three people testified against the plan, citing childcare crises and job losses.
Bus drivers demanded bathroom access during shifts, genuine voice in decision-making, and better working conditions; superintendent Lewis acknowledged the bathroom access problem and said principals should not turn away drivers.
Northern High School, open since fall 2023, remains understaffed and under-furnished with eleven classrooms lacking proper furniture and only two certified special education teachers for eleven new special ed classrooms.