MUSD eliminates busing for general education students

Buses will be used only to transport Special Education students and homeless students in the MUSD this coming school year. File photo

Parents of students in the Menifee Union School District flooded social media Thursday in protest of the district's announcement Wednesday night that it has discontinued bus service for general education students.

In a news release, the MUSD reported that the decision was made during the recent budget process because the cost of transportation services had increased approximately $500,000. The district's contract with Hemet Unified School District to provide busing was negotiated at an annual cost of $1.5 million, but "the actual ridership was at a cost of over $2 million," the release said. District officials estimated the decision would affect about 1,300 students -- but residents claim the impact will be far greater than that.

On Facebook, Nextdoor.com and other social media sites, parents expressed shock and concern. Some began making pleas for car pool help for the coming school year. One threatened to organize a walkout and picket of the district office the first day of school and another was making plans to circulate a petition.

"This is completely outrageous," Annamarie Rivera-Simon told Menifee 24/7. "The MUSD sets themselves up with a fancy new building in prime real estate in the Menifee shopping district. Schools are falling apart. Students are put last. This will be devastating for our family as we will have zero ways to get our kids to the middle school."

Others also cited the expense of the district's new $18 million education center, in addition to a sizeable proposed salary increase for superintendent Steve Kennedy, in questioning the school board's allocation of funds.

In response to an inquiry from Menifee 24/7, district spokesperson Betti Cadmus said the decision to cut busing was affected by rising transportation costs, rising student enrollment and state funding that has not increased to meet the demand over the years.

"Based on student population, the State of California developed a formula for transportation funds reimbursement in the ‘60’s, and it has not been updated since," Cadmus said. "At that time, the Menifee Union School District had about 900 students in total. Today we have 10,233 and growing. The Menifee Union School District receives just $109,000 to support busing."

In a June 13 school board meeting, a reduction in transportation costs of $704,000, originally designed to help make up the difference, was announced in preparation for the new fiscal year. The budget, including those cuts, was approved on June 27, with a $2 million overall deficit.

Many parents interviewed by Menifee 24/7 said they were unaware this was coming and were caught by surprise when the district posted the announcement on its Facebook page late Wednesday afternoon and sent out an automated voice mail about the situation.

Jennifer Bridgewaters has three children who will attend Chester Morrison Elementary School this year. She lives 1.7 miles from the school and counted heavily on bus transportation last year, she said.

"I was sad to hear this news," she said. "The bus service was a very beneficial service for my family since I have two babies besides the three I have going to school. I was able to care for the babies while my older kids took the bus to and from school.

"Our family was new to the area and the bus service made the experience pleasant. It made the school and the area feel safe and family friendly. My two children also had the opportunity to ride the bus together last year, which they loved being able to do. My third son was very excited to have the opportunity to ride the bus with his brothers next year."

Myrlene Swanstrom has two children who will attend Menifee Valley Middle School and would have to find a way to travel 2.7 miles down Murrieta Road to get to school. She estimates it would be a 55-minute walk or 16-minute ride on a bike. Safety is one of her primary concerns.

"I depend on the transportation for my children to get the education they need and to get to school safely and on time," she said. "I think Menifee should reconsider and bring back the transportation. Our children will not benefit from this and it will only affect their education. Many children will be late or miss school due to no transportation.

"My children cannot walk to school due to the distance, and to make matters worse, there is no sidewalk and it is not a safe road for them to walk on or even ride a bike. I am willing to sign a petition to bring the buses back."

According to Cadmus, it has been years since the district maintained its own transportation department and provided free bus service for everyone. Rising enrollment without an increase in state funding led to the discontinuation of that service. In recent years, busing was offered to parents at an annual fee in excess of $200 per year. Last year, the district offered free busing to students who lived more than 1.25 miles (grades K-5) or 2 miles (grades 6-8) from their school.

Cadmus said district officials made the decision that free busing was not feasible and that the cost to parents in a fee-based system would be unreasonably high.

"The Governing Board looked at several transportation options, which were explored at a special study session," Cadmus said. "With the shortfall of funds coming from the state vs. the cost of transportation, we would be running at a major deficit. With only 1,300 students riding the bus to and from school, the cost per rider would be inordinately high, much higher than what was ever charged to our parents."

In addition, Cadmus said the other expenses cited by parents were in categories other than transportation and that some of the needed building improvements are taking place.

"Renovations are currently underway at the existing sites, such as painting, work on sprinklers, and repairs to classrooms," she said. "Ground has been broken for a new elementary school with a new middle school and second elementary school construction to quickly follow, along with a major renovation of Menifee Valley Middle School.

"The former District Office has been reconfigured to house a much-needed centralized reprographics department that is working through the summer to prepare materials to be used at all the schools. Also, a centralized custodial supply and library materials area have been set up, which enables the district to better control costs, and cut down on waste."

The three-year contract offer to Kennedy, which would've started with a $229,918 salary next year and topped off at $243,920 in 2019-20, which withdrawn by the board at its June 27 meeting. That contract will be re-evaluated, board members said.

This explanation might not satisfy parents, who continued to express their concern throughout the day on Thursday, with the start of the school year less than four weeks away.

"We really need to fix this bus situation," said Tara Hunt-Drost. "I'm trying to organize a citywide walk-out the first day of school and picket the district office."

Melissa Lafferty, who lives off Whitewood Road in south Menifee, said she has children who live five miles from the school they attend.

"They would have to use Antelope frontage road, which has no sidewalks or anything, if they were even to ride a bike, which I wouldn't allow anyhow," she said.

Jennifer O'Neal had no concerns when she lived almost across the street from Callie Kirkpatrick Elementary School. But now, having moved across town, her two boys would have to travel across Newport Road and south on Evans Road to reach Evans Ranch Elementary School.

"I planned on going back to work," she said. "Now, I probably won't be able to. My husband has no give in his schedule. My children are in second grade and kindergarten. Maybe that could be considered walking distance for third and fourth graders, but not for the younger ones. I know they have crossing guards at Newport, but they would still have to walk a long way along Evans Road."

Special Education students with an Individual Education Plan requiring transportation and homeless students will continue to receive transportation because it is mandated by federal law, according to the MUSD. Anyone with questions is asked to contact the district Transportation Office at 951-765-6285.