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School system's policies on students walking to schools and bus stops come under fire Date published: 7/27/2008
By DAN TELVOCK Spotsylvania County supervisors and school officials might have some intense policy discussions as the economy continues its downward spiral and fuel prices continue to climb. In an effort to cut costs, some supervisors have questioned school system policies that discourage students from walking to school and limit the distance students can walk to bus stops. The rules are some of the strictest in the region. Federal health officials reported earlier this year that nearly a third of U.S. children are either overweight or obese. On July 17, Gov. Timothy Kaine announced $1 million in funding to 13 localities to promote bicycling and walking to school. No school in this region received money. "I think in light of the continual news stories about childhood obesity and the rising cost of gas, I think it is time we visit this no-walk policy," Supervisor Hap Connors said during a recent interview. With gas prices hovering well above $3 a gallon during the 2007-08 school year, the school system spent $280,000 more on fuel than it had budgeted. For 2008-09, the system has budgeted $2.3 million for fuel. In a July 2 letter to supervisors, Spotsylvania Superintendent Jerry Hill wrote that the health and safety of students is a priority in School Board policies. "The School Board has been reluctant to change this standard because of the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths Hill's letter is referring to the abductions and murders of Sofia Silva and Kati and Kristin Lisk. Supervisors asked county staff on July 8 to verify Hill's letter because they disputed his account of the students' being abducted en route from their bus stops. Silva, 16, was abducted Sept. 9, 1996. She is believed to have been working on homework on the front stoop of her home. Kati, 12, and Kristin Lisk, 15, were taken from their home on May 1, 1997.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 7/27/2008
I would love for my kids to walk or bike to school. However, they don't have the extra 7 hours it would take them to walk both ways. Even my father-in-law who walked up hill both ways in the snow did not walk as far as my kids would have to walk.
I am a teacher and used to work in a district that was large and rural. We worked about 1-2 hours more the four days we were in school and had Mondays off. Everyone loved it and it was one of the top 4 public schools in the state. Many districts in the West have four day weeks and it saves quite a bit in gas and expenses in general.
I was extremly upset when I saw this article because my son went to a county school for 3 years, in which my husband and I took and picked him up (saving the schools money because he was not using the bus) and because we moved they declined letting him continue at the school. I went around and around with the head of elementary education about this! Now they are pretty much asking kids not to ride the bus!!
why not cut the useless half days at the end of the year to
save fuel costs? in spotsy, the kids go over the 180 required
days and the half days accomplish nothing anyway.
Stafford has a few schools built in communities and
students do walk or bike to school. Spotsy has not made
that a priority/consideration. There are only a couple
schools that could be walked to since there are curbs and
sidewalks. The rest of the schools are built off major roads
and it is impossible to walk to them. Louisa has no schools
that could be walked to for the same reason.
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