Four bus routes cut, new centralised stops, and a boundary change for some kindergarteners

What happened

Following the new bell times, new routing software has removed four full bus routes, short of the district's target of five. Some children will now walk to centralised bus stops rather than being picked up nearer home, because several roads in the district are narrow and not always plowed. Separately, incoming kindergarten children who do not already have a brother or sister at Western Coventry Elementary will be assigned to Washington Oak instead, because Western Coventry has run out of classroom space. The district said this affects five incoming children.

Why it matters to families

A centralised stop means a longer walk in the dark or the snow, and a boundary change means a different school than the one a family expected.

The evidence

The July 23, 2026 approved minutes record the superintendent reporting that new routing software has eliminated four full bus routes against an original goal of five, the assistant superintendent explaining that some students will now use centralised bus stops that comply with district policy because several roads are narrow and not always adequately plowed, and the proposed Washington Oak and Western Coventry boundary adjustment under which new kindergarten registrations without siblings at Western Coventry would go to Washington Oak, affecting five incoming students. A member raised student safety walking to stops in bad weather. No separate vote on the boundary change is recorded in these minutes.

The source