Article Contributed on: 5/31/2009 1:33:54 PM
Reacting to the input from
Parents and the Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors, the Douglas County School Districthas agreed that its school buses will make five stops daily in the residential community. The Douglas County School District, under severe financial strain, considered major cutbacks in its busing program. For Roxborough Park, the proposal was to eliminate all bus pickups within the residential community; students would have to assemble at the parking lot of the West Metro Fire Station. As one parent commented, "What a relief. The District really did listen to us. We thank them for hearing us." A Real Estate agent said, "No school bus stops in the community would have been disastrous for us--people with children simply would not consider buying here."
In the November 2008 General Election, Douglas County voters turned down two proposals to increase funding for local schools. As a result of the vote, the School District has been forced to evaluate all of its expenses.
One area of focus is the transportation services provided by the District. Paul Balon, the Director of Transportation for the District, has been charged with reducing transportation expenses by $2.6 million. A preliminary plan called for the elimination of internal busing in all communities in Douglas County where the roads are "privately maintained."
Following a standing room only meeting of the Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors in late April, the Board adopted a resolution calling on the District to reconsider its decision. Paul Balon said that an on-site visit to Roxborough Park enabled the transportation officials to decide on the following five stops:
--Big Horn Trail Bus Shelter
--North Roxborough Drive @ Mailbox Bus Shelter
--Snow Cloud Bus Shelter
--Surrey Trail Bus Shelter
--Willow Broom Bus Shelter
Balon said that these will be magnet stops; the buses will pause for the children to board for several minutes so that, during inclement weather, they will not have to stand out in the elements. The new busing program will begin in August. Parents may find details and schedules on the District's Web site.