Middle school working on bus and class schedules

Bus schedules are running more smoothly, but class schedules for students at Maricopa Wells Middle School may be changing over the course of the next few weeks.

Adjusting schedules will balance class sizes as well as moving students into courses based on their pre-assessment learning needs. In addition, new teachers will be added in history, science and seventh/eighth physical education. Classes in those areas are larger than most. Where possible students will retain the same teachers.

Students getting off at the wrong bus stops or waiting for a late bus in the heat are problems that have been addressed at the school. “The buses ran reasonably on time with the exception of one bus that was in a slight fender bender Friday,” said Principal Stephanie Sharp. She explained that students go inside at 4 p.m. if their buses haven’t arrived so they can call home, get drinks and stay cool until they can be transported.

One of the early problems, according to a middle school staff member, was that students new to the district had not yet learned their address, subdivision or even, in some cases, their phone numbers.

Students have all been asked to write down their addresses, phone numbers and bus stops to keep in backpacks so they will have the correct information to get off at the right locations.

Parent Cassandra Price and her husband had a problem “when the children were not to the correct bus stop by 6:30” from the Pima Butte After School Program Thursday evening. PCSO deputies returned them after a stranger called the substation to say the kids needed to get home.

Working in conjunction with District Transportation Director John Sampson, After School Program Director Michael Muriett has put in place a new badge policy for students in that program. Within the next few weeks students will be issued lanyards displaying a badge with each student’s name and bus stop so bus drivers can double check destinations.

Muriett, who contacted Price via phone, indicated that he thought she was pleased that a solution to be problem was in the works.

Update: As of Tuesday a.m. Maricopa Wells Middle School can receive incoming calls but cannot make outgoing calls except via cell phones. The technology department is working on the issue.

In addition buses may have to make double runs. With additional bus riders capacity is 84 students. The remainder will go to the gym and wait for a second bus run. This will cause some of the in-town routes to run slightly late — 15-25 minutes. This issue is temporary as routes and drivers are being added. Administration thanks parents and students for their patience as the transportation department works through these issues.