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Loss of activity buses continues to raise concerns for Spotsylvania High Date published: 11/17/2009
By PAMELA GOULD Two months into the school year, Spotsylvania County middle and high school administrators report no problems getting students picked up, despite the elimination of activity buses. However, Spotsylvania Middle and Spotsylvania High reported a drop in participation in after-school activities resulting from the buses' elimination. In addition, Chancellor Middle reported the lack of buses "posed a significant problem" for attendance at two programs known as My Life and the Young Women's Leadership Program. That report was presented to the School Board at a recent work session by David Sovine, executive director of secondary education. The School Board cut the buses because of a tight budget, but some members also expressed concerns about student safety. Activity buses dropped students farther from home than the regular buses, forcing students to walk a mile or more, often in the dark and on roads without shoulders. With the buses eliminated, school staff were asked to stay late to supervise students until parents picked them up by 6 p.m. at the middle school level and by 6:30 at high schools. "Just about in all cases, students and parents have made adjustments in when they're being picked up," Sovine told the board. While that was good news, board member Ray Lora was concerned about the long-term impact of the loss of the buses that ferried children home from clubs, sports and remediation. "I want you to check in June to see if there is any correlation between activity buses and academic achievement," Lora told Sovine. He also noted that participation on Spotsylvania High's sports teams had decreased dramatically. That was supported by Sovine's data, but the report noted that the cause wasn't chiefly about buses. The drop in numbers has "not been due to transportation but rather the program's win/loss record," the report states. At Spotsylvania High, 38 students are participating in marching band this year, down from about 58 last year, the report states. Field hockey had to recruit girls to field a junior varsity team. And the football team started with 80 players, but dropped off during the season as the team endured lopsided losses. Lora expressed concern about the dwindling number of athletes at Spotsylvania High and the increasing number of them transferring to other schools.
about the effects of a change like this before they go ahead and do it? looking at the number of kids who don't graduate in June doesn't serve those students well.
demeaning to the students who attend SHS and me as a parent of a SHS Senior am disgusted with some of the things said. One comment about "less graduates", maybe that is because you allow students to transfer to other schools because they don't like a particular teacher or coach (and I know that for a fact). As for Mr Hills comment about competing with smaller schools, the last I heard it isn't based on how well you play a sport but in the size of the school. AND YOU MAKE THE BIG BUCKS WHY??????
The activity busses are not the reason the field hockey team had to recruit this year. The field hockey team has had to recruit players for a JV team every year since Riverbend opened it's doors taking many players away from the Spotsy teams. The main reason for the recruiting is because Spotsy High School's district covers the area of the county furthest from the City of Fredericksburg. The city is the only place to play field hockey since the Spotsylvania P&R refuses to add the sport to their offerings
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