Dear Madison-Plains Local School District Parents and Guardians,

The purpose of this communication is to share some information and to provide an update on transportation. 

We learned late this afternoon that a sleeping child was not seen during a post-trip bus inspection after the morning route.  Once the bus was parked after the route, the child woke up, got off the bus, and walked home.  We have been in contact with the parent, and the child is at home and doing fine.  Unfortunately, what had happened was not known until late this afternoon.  In the time since then, an investigation has begun and efforts to determine the most effective and efficient way to transport students has also begun. 

At this time, the plan for transportation is as follows:

Bus #9 is not going to be able to run.  In the morning, bus #12 will pick up its normal route and bring those students to school.  After bus #12 has dropped its regular route students off, it will depart for bus #9’s route.  Bus #12 should be able to begin that route at approximately 8:00 a.m. 

For the afternoon, the bus #9 students will have to remain after school for approximately 30 minutes.  Bus #6 will take the in-town Midway/Sedalia students home first and then return to the school at approximately 3:15 p.m. or 3:20 p.m. to pick up the bus #9 students and then take them home.  Those students will be getting home approximately a half-hour late.  Bus #2 will pick up bus #6’s rural students immediately after school and transport them home at the same time it takes its regular route students home.  We will monitor this tomorrow and see if there are ways we can improve this. 

What happened today is unacceptable.  We will continue our efforts to improve in order to meet the standards and levels of service that are expected by our community and by the school district. 

Thank you.

Chad Eisler, Superintendent

Madison-Plains Local School District