Elgin U-46 to discuss bus service at meeting

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the meeting time. The meeting is as 7 p.m.

Elgin Area School District U-46 will hold a meeting for parents and community members regarding the changes to the high school bus pickup sites at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, in the auditorium of Elgin High School, 1200 Maroon Drive.

In an effort to reduce transportation costs as a result of lagging state payments and state reductions in transportation funding, the district recently announced that high school students will be asked to walk to their nearest elementary or middle school.

If the school is more than 1.5 miles away, or there is a hazardous determination, a neighborhood stop will be established.

“Parents will be notified of their student's pickup and drop-off site by mid-August,” said Jeff King, Chief Operations Officer for the district.

While the change was triggered by a cut to transportation funding by the state, the district continues to provide a safe environment for students and has addressed concerns about the changes.

According to King, “If there is a designated hazard for elementary students to walk a route, the hazard would extend to high school students. In those cases, we are determining appropriate neighborhood stops.”