FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Some bus routes in the North Schuylkill School District have been temporarily changed due to problems with school buses traveling along streets and roads covered with snow and ice.
The busing changes went into effect Monday. Parents were contacted through a phone messaging service and the following was posted on the school district's website:
"Due to the extreme snow emergency situations in several of our municipalities, it is necessary to alter the bus pick up sites at the following locations:
- In Frackville: Pick up will be on Frack Street for those living north of Oak Street and Arch Street for those living south of Oak Street.
- In Ashland: Centre Street only - both the north and south sides of the street.
- In both Girardville and Ringtown boroughs - Main Street only in each of these locations.
Please have your child ready at the nearest corner that intersects these streets at their regular pick up time.
All other bus routes will be on their normal schedule.
The students will also be dropped off at the same location at their designated drop off time. Please check our website for any additional updates. We will continue to monitor the roadway conditions in our municipalities and will resume the schedules as soon as the road conditions improve. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you in advance for your cooperation."
District Superintendent Andrew D. Smarkanic said the volume of snow in some areas, limited visibility and a lack of maneuvering room for the school buses prompted the decision.
"We can't take buses into areas where we can't make turns," Smarkanic said.
Smarkanic said that the schools need to be open and the district is working at finding the best ways to get the students in for classes.
"We have to open school and the only way we were able to get the students from the municipalities to the school buildings was to alter the bus routes, no differently than Pottsville and other school districts have done during snow emergencies," Smarkanic said. "We put the plan in effect yesterday because the roads in the municipalities could not be traversed. I personally went through Ashland, and I live in Frackville, and I couldn't get my vehicle through some of the streets, let alone a bus."
Smarkanic said district officials spoke to Frackville officials to work out a plan.
"They split the town in two, so if you live north of Oak Street, then you would go to Frack Street. For south of Oak Street, you go down to Arch Street," Smarkanic said.
Smarkanic added that the bus companies that are contracted by the district for transportation services also traveled around the district over the weekend to determine the problem areas.
"Our contractors went through the bus routes over the weekend to find what routes were open," he said. "We tried to talk to borough officials to make sure those routes would be open."
Smarkanic addressed the concern by some parents that they are not aware of where the existing bus stops are along the snow routes, explaining that students will be picked up at any location.
"As long as they are on those streets, they will be picked up," Smarkanic said. "There are no specific stops assigned. If we have to stop every block, then we'll stop every block for the kids. That's what the drivers are told. The bus drivers are not going to leave anybody behind."
Smarkanic added, "And my absentee rate in the high school is basically the same as it always is. I haven't got the elementary school report yet today. In the high school, I have a minimal amount of kids out."
The bus drivers also have some discretion in picking up students at stops not along the aforementioned streets depending on conditions on the normal routes, according to Smarkanic.
The route changes will stay in effect until driving conditions improve.
"As conditions change, we will amend it," Smarkanic said.
Among the school districts in Schuylkill County, Pottsville Area is the only other district that lists changes to the normal bus stop schedule when there is severe weather.
The information is available by going to www.pottsville.k12.pa.us and clicking on the "Delays-Closing-Alternate Schedules" page under the "For Parents" tab.