Comment Log Display

LAKEPORT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Transportation Department / From the desk of David Norris /
Director of Transportation
2503 Howard Ave, Lakeport, CA  95453	
707/262-3022    Fax 707/262-3034

December 9, 2008

Dear ARB Board Members, Please take into consideration the
following issues when making your decisions on the proposed
regulation; In-Use Heavy-Duty Diesel-Fueled Vehicles.

This proposed regulation could not have come at a worse time.
California schools should not have to choose between books and
buses

Lakeport is a small, rural town located on the west shore of Clear
Lake in Lake County, approximately 100 miles northeast of San
Francisco.  The population of incorporated Lakeport is
approximately 5,100. Our community is primarily made up of families
with school-age children and retired senior citizens. The Lakeport
Unified School District is comprised of Lakeport Elementary School
(grades K-3), Terrace Middle School (grades 4-8), Clear Lake High
School (grades 9-12), Natural High Continuation School, and
Lakeport Unified Home School.  We have approximately 1660 students
that attend our schools and about 625 students ride our buses to
school daily.

Students are subject to a required walking distance.  Only
students living beyond the walking distance will be eligible for
bus riding privileges.  Students in grades K – 5: 3/4 mile walking
distance, grades 6, 7, 8 – 1 mile walking distance, and grades 9 -
12 have a 2 mile walking distance. The majority of the 625 students
we transport relay on the bus service we provide, as they live
beyond two miles and many of the families do not have cars.  It is
imperative that we maintain our current level of service. In 2003
we had to eliminate two bus routes due to a reduction in funding
which put over 200 students on the streets, most without sidewalks.
 The collection of fees for transportation is not an option as 65%
of our children qualify for free and reduced programs. In addition,
our district is experiencing declining enrollment which is what our
funding is based on.

Our school district does not have the funds to comply with new PM
regulations.  Simply stated, the only way that our school district
can comply with these regulations is if the Air Resources Board
provides full funding for bus replacement and or retrofits.  

The Yellow School Bus has been an essential part of providing
public education to the children of Lakeport. It is part of the
fabric of this American institution, the very foundation in how we
educate our children. In California we have developed a system that
has proven to be the safest form of transportation in the world. We
have the strictest regulations relating to the construction and use
of the school bus and the education and training of our drivers.
I encourage you to do one of the following:
1.Exempt all school busses from this regulation and let the busses
be replaced through attrition.
2.Fully fund this new regulation, which appears to be mandated.
3.Spend all of the funds only on new school busses.
Let’s not increase the price of operating school busses to the
point that we can’t afford to transport our children.

Sincerely,

David Norris