Engaged students without bus passes hurts after school opportunities

From the school newspaper, Obama Eagle

Bus pass cuts provide students with headaches, frustration
Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:45 PM PDT
“What ever happened to bus passes?”

Many students come across this question daily. “It would make it so much easier to get to school if we had bus passes. If we miss our school buses we have to pay for the PAT buses anyway,” student Maria Vaccarello says. Many students aren’t very pleased about the dismissal of these passes. Sci-Tech student Idee Olugbade explains,” The school district doesn’t realize that those bus passes brought us to our after school sports!”

While many students are enraged Dr. Miles Brown calmly states that along with budget cuts the school just can’t afford PAT bus passes for everyone. The school needed to start prioritizing its budget and giving unnecessary bus passes was the easiest thing to cross off the schools list of financial expenses. “The bus passes aren’t handled by us,” Dr. Brown explains, “The school’s administrative office gets notified of the bus pass distribution just as the students do.” She understands the complaints and thinks it best for every ones’ educational priorities to stick with the yellow buses! She also says that all extra-curricular activities receive buses. She even gave a number to call if you want to discuss concerns with a PPS transportation director, Theodor Vasser, (412-338-8125). Fortunately OAIS students can get to and from school, daily activities, and home without too much of a struggle.