Kaneland to add after-school buses leaving at 4 p.m.

The Kaneland School District will add 4 p.m. buses two days a week at the middle and high schools next year to cut down on discipline problems.

A "player bus" leaves the schools each day at 5 p.m. and drops off in several spots in each town, but many activities end at 3:45 or 4 p.m., Kaneland assistant business official Julie-Ann Fuchs told the school board on Monday night.

In the past year, there's been vandalism, thefts and "inappropriate contact" during that time, she said.

Students from clubs, homework help groups and detention are supposed to go to the cafeteria for that time, but "getting them there is another story," Fuchs said.

The school board approved a plan that would move all school activities that end before 4 p.m. to Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On those days, four buses would leave at 4 p.m., with an additional four at 5 p.m. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, there would be six buses leaving at 5 p.m., the same as there is now.

The additional buses would cost the district about $20,000, Fuchs said.

"Our goal is to not have anyone roaming in the hall from 4 to 5," she said.

Board president Lisa Wiet said she supported the measure, but wanted to make sure students wouldn't have to choose between clubs to join if they were only two days a week.

Fuchs said when the new buses were put into place, the district could likely end the cafeteria supervision after school.

The board will have to re-evaluate the program before next year, as it might not be as easy to maintain when the new middle school opens, she said.