Dear Bethel-Tate Families whose students are currently riding a bus,
This week has been both exhilarating and humbling as the Bethel-Tate Local School District successfully implemented new bus routes.
The exhilaration comes in knowing that for the first time since before the pandemic, our district has a sustainable, reliable transportation model. As an added bonus, the district will realize significant cost savings, as much as a half a million dollars, over the next five years as a result of the restructuring.
Neither of these successes came without considerable research and planning on the part of members of our district’s Transportation Department and our Transportation Consultant Pete Japiske.
I wish to express my gratitude to the entire transportation team. During a time when transportation departments coast-to-coast are struggling with staffing shortages, our team has repeatedly risen to the occasion to get the job done!
This brings me to the humbling part of this week’s experience. I am humbled by and grateful to all of you, our community. With the new bus routes came new morning and afternoon schedules and routines for everyone. Many of you experienced new pickup and drop-off times and possibly were assigned a new bus stop. Some of you, perhaps for the first time, patiently waited with your student at the bus stop. For all of this and more, I thank you.
Your openness and willingness to adapt to the changes made what could have been a challenging week feel nearly seamless.
Again, thank you. We’re looking forward to ending this school year strong!
Sincerely,
Melissa Kircher
Superintendent