CONTRIBUTIONS BY EMILY LINCKE BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Zooming in
CISD transportation centers As of Oct. 27
As of October, there were 19 open routes in the district. Melendez said the number of open routes often fluctuates between each of the four trans- portation centers with 10 open routes at the East County Transportation Center as of Oct. 27. The East County Center covers the Caney Creek feeder zone, which includes the high school, junior high and intermediate campuses and four elementary schools. The Conroe Center—which services 19 schools—had three open routes. At the same time, Montgomery and Willis ISDs are also dealing with driver shortages. As of Oct. 26, MISD has five open bus driver positions, and individuals including the district’s transporta- tion director are driving buses to ensure all needed routes are covered, MISD leaders said. In WISD, Director of Transportation Shannon Calltharp said there were six open routes as of Nov. 1, and the department is using mechanics and office staff to help fill those routes. However, Megan Clermont, a mom of a Stewart Creek Elementary student, said she hasn’t experi- enced lateness with MISD buses this year. “We’ve dealt with being late leaving the school, but that isn’t common, and I totally understand things happen sometimes beyond the driver’s control,” she said.
1 Conroe Center • 3 open routes
Conroe High School feeder zone
Caney Creek High School feeder zone
• Serves Conroe feeder 2 East County Center • 10 open routes • Serves Caney Creek feeder 3 Oak Ridge Center • 3 open routes • Serves Oak Ridge and Grand Oaks feeders 4 The Woodlands Center • 3 open routes • Serves The Woodlands and College Park feeders
105
1
336
3083
2
1314
1488
242
GROGANS MILL RD.
45
3
4
99 TOLL
SAWDUST RD.
N
SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The context
What’s next
CISD voters passed a $1.9 billion bond Nov. 7 that included $22 million designated for trans- portation needs. In 2019, voters approved a $683 million bond package that set aside $20 million for transportation. Melendez said the average cost of a new bus in 2023 is approximately $149,000. During a presentation to Shenandoah City Coun- cil on Oct. 25, CISD Superintendent Curtis Null said buses are a continuing need, and they tend to be paid off within 10 years instead of the usual 30 years for bond projects. Melendez said the district also needs to replace a third of its fleet that has passed the industry standards for life expectancy. “That [bond] money will help us to provide buses for our ever expanding number of students and routes,” Melendez said. MISD has made similar investments in its trans- portation department, including $6.3 million for new buses as part of the district’s $326.9 million
2019 • $8.5 million to purchase new buses • $11.5 million for general transportation needs • $5 million added later from the general fund for projects 2023 • $12 million to buy new buses • $10 million to expand and renovate the East County Transportation Center CISD bond funds spent on transportation
Looking forward, Melendez said his goals for the future of the transportation department are to fill all route vacancies with good drivers, stay up-to-date with technological advances and continue to update infrastructure. Conroe ISD bus driver hiring event • Nov. 28 • 9:30-10:30 a.m. • Oak Ridge Transportation Center, 27110 Geffert Wright Drive, Spring Montgomery ISD auxiliary staff job fair
SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Nov. 29 • 3-6 p.m. • MISD Education Support Center, 20774 Eva St., Montgomery Apply for WISD driver positions: www.willisisd.org/page/58
bond voters approved in May 2022. MISD leaders said Oct. 17 the design for renovations to the dis- trict’s transportation center—a $7 million project also funded by the bond—is nearly complete, and the project is expected to go out for bid after Jan. 1.
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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
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