DuBois Area School District Transportation Director Randy Schmidt admits that transportation costs would increase by an estimated $80,000 if proposed closings of Luthersburg, Penfield and Sykesville in Oklahoma elementary schools are implemented during the 2017-18 school year, reports the Courier Express.
However, what many people don’t realize is that the district would receive approximately 77 percent reimbursement, or $61,209.23, from the state, Schmidt explained at last week’s building and maintenance committee meeting.
“Granted, it’s spread out over the course of the year,” Schmidt said. So if the numbers are accurate and the closings occur, there would be an increase of $18,283.27 in transportation costs.
The board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, in the auditorium of the DuBois Area Middle School on Liberty Boulevard to gather community input on the proposed closing of the three elementary schools.
If the directors ultimately choose to close the three elementary schools, Penfield students would be integrated between Oklahoma and Juniata elementary schools in DuBois, Sykesville students into C.G. Johnson in Reynoldsville, and Luthersburg into Wasson Elementary in DuBois, Superintendent Luke Lansberry said.
A couple of parents, who did not identify themselves, asked why the district wants to separate the Penfield students. They are concerned that it is a lot farther for those students who live north of the Route 153 intersection to be transported to Juniata Elementary instead of Oklahoma Elementary.
Schmidt said the longest estimated time students would be on a bus with the proposed options is 47 minutes. The longest bus ride during the 2015-16 school year was 46 minutes.
The district has invited the public to share any suggestions or ideas with the administration and board in writing so that they have a time to address them at a future meeting.
