RATHDRUM, Idaho – The Lakeland School District has eliminated eight bus routes as administrators grapple with a $500,000 hit to the transportation budget, leaving families scrambling to find alternative ways to get their children to school.
The cuts affect students across the district, with the City of Spirit lake loosing transportation to all three public schools in the area. Lakeland High and Middle School students will also see reduced bus routes, with the district citing that most affected students live within 1.5 miles of their schools.
For parents like Savana Bradetich, who has three children in Spirit Lake schools, the changes create significant hardship.
“It’s actually really extremely upsetting and discouraging because a lot of families have to have both parents working,” Bradetich said.
The transportation cuts raise safety concerns among parents, particularly during winter months when roads may be snow-covered. Many streets in Spirit Lake remain unpaved, and sidewalks are limited.
“I could never let my kids walk to school knowing that there’s a chance that they could be hit by a car, by somebody not paying attention, and that there’s no sidewalks for them to walk on safely,” Bradetich said.
In November, voters rejected a proposed levy. While a reduced levy passed this spring, it still left the district with a $2 million budget shortfall.
Kate Mccarthy, a parent who has been actively involved with the district, said the transportation cuts were predictable given the financial constraints.
“It makes me sad for those families that are squeezed. But I hope this lights a fire under those families. We need to be more involved,” Mccarthy said.
The elimination of bus services has forced parents to develop creative solutions. Bradetich plans to convert a neighbor’s van into community transportation to help other families get their children to and from school.
“I will be making this van something that we can use and that I can help my community and help my neighbors with by getting their kids to and from school. So that’s less stress on them,” Bradetich said.
The district has not announced whether additional budget cuts may be necessary or if alternative transportation solutions are being explored.
The district’s new Superintendent, Rusty Taylor, told KXLY in a statement, “We understand the burden this places on families and are sincerely sorry for the disruption it causes. The board of trustees and district administration will continue to monitor the adjusted routes throughout the year and make small changes if needed. Should any adjustments be made, we will notify parents and guardians in advance.”
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