Can pay cuts save Dist. 87 bus routes?

The debate concerning eliminated Glenbard High School District 87 bus routes intensified during a school board meeting Monday when a county official suggested pay cuts for "upper-echelon" employees might save enough to reinstate service to the Newport Village subdivision.

The Carol Stream neighborhood was left out when bus routes were redrawn at the beginning of the school year because new software determined it was less than 11/2 miles from Glenbard North High School.

County board member Dirk Enger, as well as parents of Glenbard North students from the neighborhood, argued that whether or not the homes are closer than the state's minimum distance for a bus route, that does not change safety hazards the children face when walking the route. The route zigzags through the neighborhood and includes a stretch of Munson Road with no sidewalks, poorly maintained sidewalks and a heavy-traffic stretch of Kuhn Road.

During his plea, Enger said that perhaps the school district had not looked in the right spots when cutting costs. He then said the district should examine pay cuts for "upper-echelon" employees in order to pay for the service.

"That would set a better example for the children," Enger said.

District 87 Superintendent Mike Meissen said after the meeting that all areas were examined when the district explored cost cuts as the year began and that the issue of wages has been a part of that process.

"Our goal is to be responsible fiscally with all of the decisions we make related to the transportation services, related to the decisions we've established with our board of education," he said.

During the meeting, two parents read prepared statements to the board urging them to do what they can to keep the route alive.

Residents first balked last September when the district used new software, VersaTrans, to remap bus routes for all four of its schools. Newport Village was one of many routes eliminated or changed throughout the district. Only Newport Village was addressed at Monday's meeting.

A mechanism in place with the Illinois Department of Transportation qualifies some schools for reimbursement of money spent on extremely hazardous routes. However, even a reconfigured submission falls short in a point system designed to tell the Illinois Department of Transportation how dangerous walking routes are.

The district will resubmit the information after it approves Monday's meeting minutes next month. Enger said he would do what he can to keep this route alive.

"I am not giving up on this route," Enger told the board. "I will vigorously work to get this route back."

Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Chris McClain said he welcomed any help Enger could offer regarding the state or county legislature.