For many families, the school bus is a lifeline that makes daily schedules possible. But for Stacie Smail, the long ride her 4-year-old son Porter faces each afternoon has turned into a source of stress. At Monday night’s Iola USD 257 school board meeting, Smail urged board members to reconsider bus routes for preschoolers, saying the commute times are too much for such young children.
“He loves preschool,” said Smail, introducing Porter. “He’s a little guy, as you guys can tell. He went to 3-year-old preschool last year, and we’re very excited to sign him up for 4-year-old preschool this year.”
But that excitement is being overshadowed by transportation challenges. Smail explained she and her husband both work full-time jobs and rely on the bus system to get Porter to and from school and daycare in LaHarpe.
Two days before the start of the year, Smail received a call from the bus driver who would be bringing Porter to school. She was told his morning ride would take about 40 minutes, which she felt was manageable. However, the next day she learned his return trip would take an estimated hour and 40 minutes.
This week, Smail said her son’s ride home has been reduced to about an hour, but she’s unsure whether that change simply shifted the longer wait onto other families.
SMAIL SAID she knows other parents have also raised concerns.
The district runs multiple bus routes for preschoolers in the morning and midday, but only one route in the afternoon. That leaves the youngest students with the longest rides.
While district staff have been working to adjust the route, Smail said the issue has already impacted her family. “I’ve had to take off work every single day,” she said. “It’s really impacted my job to transport him myself.”
She emphasized the strain such long commutes place on preschoolers, especially given their short school day.
“Class sizes are about 8 to 10 for preschool, and 30 minutes of their three-hour day is lunch,” she said. “If you add that amount of time together on the bus, you’re equal to a whole school day. But sitting down on the bus without potty breaks and those types of things, it just seems like a long time to ask.”
Smail added that while she understands transportation is complicated — with funding, staffing, and logistical challenges — the reality is that her family has lost 8 to 12 hours a week of work time to make up for the issue.
“I just wanted to share that perspective from the parents’ side and advocate for the kids, because they’re pretty little,” she told the board.
USD 257 Transportation Director Aaron Cole addressed the matter in a follow-up phone interview Tuesday morning, noting that he had spoken directly with Smail.
Cole said the initial estimate overstated the time it would take to bring Porter home.
“It actually ended up being 45 to 50 minutes, depending on how many kids were riding. I feel like that’s a very reasonable time for him to be on the bus.”
Cole explained that Porter’s daycare in LaHarpe is one of the last stops on the route.
“If we were to go there first, we would be backtracking and it would make the entire route longer. We do have other kids who are still on the bus,” he said. “I understand her concerns. I asked to be given a week to run the route and if that time was still too long, we’d figure out something. It ended up being 45 to 50 minutes, which I feel is reasonable.”
One bus is utilized in the morning and afternoon routes, while two are used at midday. A total of 30 preschoolers are signed up to ride, though not all ride at the same time.
Board member Dan Willis acknowledged Smail’s concerns, noting the district is continuing to review the matter. “We’re still working on some stuff,” Willis said. “We usually don’t have a lot of comments we make during public forums — it’s not an agenda item — but yes, we’re still working on some stuff.”
Smail concluded by thanking the district for its efforts. “I know they’re working very, very hard,” she said. “And I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into it.”
IN OTHER NEWS, the board unanimously approved the district’s updated Needs Assessment, a document that outlines goals and guides decisions for curriculum, staffing, facilities, and student opportunities.
Curriculum Director Jenna Higginbotham walked the board through the document, which is available on the district’s website.
One of the most notable updates is the expansion of career and technical education (CTE) opportunities.
This year, all eighth- graders will take a new exploratory class at the middle school designed to introduce them to high school pathways. “It’s a great opportunity to bridge that transition,” Higginbotham said.
At the high school level, a new College and Career Readiness (CCR) period has been added every Wednesday during an extended seminar. Each grade has a targeted focus — ninth-graders explore career options and employability skills, 10th-graders study “future focus,” 11th-graders work on financial literacy, and seniors concentrate on post-secondary planning. “I’m really excited about this,” Higginbotham said.
“Teachers created the curriculum and are teaching it directly to students, which makes it more practical and meaningful.”
The board also approved the sale of the old McKinley and Jefferson Elementary buildings to BNIM, a design and architecture firm of Kansas City.
The firm secured funds from two tax credit programs through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to go toward a $20 million project that will provide 49 apartment units of various sizes at Jefferson and McKinley elementaries, including 10 duplexes at McKinley. Lincoln Elementary will be the target for a future application.
In addition, board members agreed to extend the district’s predevelopment agreement with BNIM for another year.
FANS ATTENDING Iola High School home football games this fall may find themselves looking to the skies as much as the field. Thanks to a unique partnership with a local aviation business, the Mustangs’ pregame ceremonies will include flyovers by vintage and military-style aircraft.
Tristan Carson, IHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, shared the news with board members.
The idea came about after Carson was contacted by Vince Hill, who stores airplanes at the Allen County Airport. While Hill isn’t originally from Iola, Carson explained that he spends most weekends here and has come to think of the community as a “second home.”
“He wanted to give something back to our district, and he thought this was a good way to do that,” Carson said.
Hill operates Black Horse Aviation, a branch of his Kansas City-based company, Black Horse Motorwerks LLC, which specializes in exotic car restoration. He has offered to bring several of his planes for the flyovers, including a North American T-28 Trojan, used as a U.S. Air Force and Navy trainer from the 1950s to the 1980s; an Aero L-39 Albatros, a jet trainer once flown by the Warsaw Pact; and a North American T-6 Texan, a World War II-era aircraft used to train American and Allied pilots.
Carson said Hill even suggested the possibility of incorporating a helicopter for future events, such as dropping the game ball at midfield.
The first flyover is planned for Friday, Sept. 12, which will also serve as Iola’s Salute to Freedom game.
Hill is also organizing a car and plane show at the Allen County Airport on Saturday, Sept. 13. Admission is free for students, with proceeds donated back to the school district. Posters and announcements will be shared at the Sept. 12 game to promote the event.
“He seems like a great guy and is really excited to help us out,” Carson said. “It’s a really cool opportunity for our community.”
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