SIMI VALLEY : Board to Consider Adding Bus Drivers

Students who are on a waiting list for bus passes at Valley View Junior High School could soon have transportation to school.

The Simi Valley school board today will consider approving two regular and two part-time bus drivers to ease crowding in the areas near Valley View and Madera schools.

School district officials have been dealing with the fallout from their decision last year to charge for bus passes.

Ridership dropped by 50% from the 1993-94 to the 1994-95 school year. But school officials say the numbers are slowly climbing and that more bus drivers are needed to serve the quickly growing areas near Wood Ranch and on the east end of town.

Assistant Supt. of Business Services Lowell Schultze said the district is operating with a bare-bones staff and has had trainers and dispatchers drive when regular drivers call in sick.

Also, he said, some drivers have had to double up their routes, causing students to be late for school.

Each new position would cost the district about $13,149. Bus passes cost $200 for the first child, $150 for the second, $100 for the third and $50 for each additional child.