PEA RIDGE — Stretching the available dollars, bus routes will be doubled - using three bus drivers to run six routes, according to Randy Easterling, transportation director for the Pea Ridge school district.

Easterling said the routes are in-city routes and will mean some adjustments on the part of parents and children. Some children on routes in Standing Oaks and Givens will be picked up 15 minutes earlier than they were last year. Others willget home 15 minutes late.

“We’re using three buses and three bus drivers to run six routes and saving money,” Easterling said. “We’re just like everybody else, we have to cut back and pinch our pennies.”

These six routes are within the city in the more populated subdivisions and take about 15 minutes to run, so even with the combined time, the drivers will still finish their two routes before the driver of the longest “short” route, Easterling said.

The routes affected are for buses 5, 24, 3, 15, 13 and 6. The district has 17 bus drivers and two aides who assist on the special needs buses. There are 21 buses in service.

The other buses are for the special needs students, for the route to the alternative school in Fayetteville and the activities buses. Easterling said the newest buses are used for activities.

“The fastest way to ruin a new bus is to send it out on these dirt roads,” Easterling said.

The earliest bus route begins with the bus driver leaving about 6:30 a.m.

and returning about 7:35 a.m. It takes an hour and five to 10 minutes andtransports 60 to 65 children, Easterling said.

The city routes do not take more than 15 minutes.

There are two pay scales for bus drivers - the short routes which are less than 20 miles and the long routes that are anything 20 miles or longer.

“We appreciate the consideration and help of parents as we make this change,” Easterling said.

“We’ll save money in salaries and in having to buy a new bus.”

Easterling said he is sending a letter to parents to let them know about the changes, and they can call him at 451-1819 for more information.

News, Pages 1 on 07/28/2010