Riverside Families,
I am writing to inform you of significant changes to our transportation services that will take effect on Monday, October 14th. Due to the recent resignations of two bus drivers and the ongoing challenges in recruiting replacements, we must reduce the number of bus routes from four to three. The changes outlined below are necessary as we search for new drivers.
Changes to Erica Brice’s Route effective Monday, October 14th, 2024:
Erica’s route will be reduced to three Elwood stops:
- 10th and Atlantic - 2nd and Vermont - 2nd and Kentucky
These stops will now be part of Mr. Koranda’s Route (formerly driven by Mr. Byrd). Once a new driver is secured, they will take over this route.
Students who previously had other stops on Erica’s route in Elwood will need to:
- Walk to one of the three designated stops listed above
- Walk to the Riverside Elementary School in Elwood or
- Secure another method of transportation to get to and from the elementary school
We will closely monitor the number of students on this route and adjust if necessary. Mr. Koranda/Bryd’s other Elwood stops will remain the same.
Additional Route Changes effective Monday, October 14th, 2024:
Joe's Route (Route 1) will stay the same with the addition of the trailer park in Wathena, which was previously a part of Mr. Koranda/Byrd’s route.
Charity’s Route (new Route 3) will stay the same with the addition of Evergreen, Spruce, and Maple in Wathena, which was previously part of Erica’s route.
As we actively search for replacement drivers, we will evaluate and adjust the routes as needed to best serve our students. Additional information regarding adjustments to pickup and drop-off times will be communicated next week. We understand these changes may impact some families, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
Please also note that the driver shortage may affect our ability to provide transportation for field trips and extracurricular activities in the future. We appreciate your assistance in helping us spread the word to recruit new drivers. We also appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate these challenges. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact me at 913-365-5632 or jgatz@usd114.org. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Gatz
Superintendent