MUSD providing temporary busing for some walk students

Maricopa Unified School District’s administration, in response to parent safety concerns, has decided to offer temporary staged busing areas for high school and Maricopa Wells Middle School students located within the walk radius to the north of the railroad tracks.

Following the July 14 governing board meeting, the MUSD Transportation Department publicized a letter from transportation director Fred Laguna, which said in part:

“As a result of budgetary cutbacks, the Transportation Department has employed the use of a software system that improves the efficiency of bus routing. Therefore, there are many changes in bus stops, as well as routes and pick-up times.” The letter directed parents of students outside the walk radius to locate bus stops at www.maricopausd.org where a link to the bus stop locator is on the transportation department web page, as well as on each school site’s web page. 

“In addition,” the letter continued, “we have brought the district into compliance with the legally allowed student walk boundaries. The walk boundary for elementary and middle school students is one (1) mile and one and a half (1.5) miles for high school students. The district does not receive a reimbursement for transportation costs from the state if the walk boundaries are less than required by law. If you live within the stated radius, your child will be assigned a walk status.” 

Although the walk boundaries were not a district decision, but a matter of compliance with state regulations, many parents in The Villages, Acacia Crossing, and Senita I and II learned their children would be walking to Maricopa Wells or the high school, using a route which, for many, would take them along the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. All of these walk students would be crossing the railroad tracks.

The safety of the children, many of whom were previously bused, became a major concern for parents (see parent letter to InMaricopa).

As a result, and in direct response to the many parental concerns expressed to the district and the transportation department, MUSD will be providing temporary staged busing areas for high school and Maricopa Wells students.

“We are attempting to offer an alternative to our families who have raised concerns over the walk radius for the high school and middle school students who live north of the railroad tracks,” said MUSD Human Resource Director Tom Beckett.

MUSD’s first day of classes is Monday, and the district plans to begin this service on Wednesday, Aug. 4. It will continue until a permanent solution is finalized.

Site pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as pick-up times, for both the high school and Maricopa Wells Middle School are as follows:
 
Maricopa High School from Acacia Crossing subdivision – park located at Rio Road Roundabout; 6:45 a.m. pick-up.

Maricopa High School from The Villages, Senita I and Senita II subdivision – Butterfield Elementary school bus loading zone; 6:45 a.m. pick-up.

Maricopa Wells Middle School from Acacia Crossing subdivision – park located at Rio Road Roundabout; 8:35 a.m. pick-up and Maricopa Community Church on Hathaway Avenue; 8:40 a.m. pick-up.

For more information please contact the Transportation Department at 520-568-5100.

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