Cy-Fair ISD reinstates some bus routes for middle school students

CYPRESS, Texas - Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is extending transportation eligibility to middle school students living within two miles of their school if their route includes walking along busy roads without safe paths.

Parents say it's a step in the right direction, but not satisfied

What they're saying:

Sherlaunda Hall has several children in CFISD, including two daughters in middle school. On Wednesday, April 16, one of her daughters was struck by a vehicle while biking to school. 

"It was very devastating to get a call. First, you get a phone call from your child telling you. ‘Hey, I’m almost to school’, then you get a phone call, ‘mom, Jordin just got hit," Hall said. "My mind actually went blank. I really don’t have no words. All of this could’ve been avoided," she continued.

A week after the incident, Hall received an email from the district letting her know that starting on Monday, April 28, her daughter would be eligible for transportation.

"Still not all the way satisfied. My high school students still have to walk. So my stress is not [gone]. It’s a parent's worst nightmare," Hall said.

Hostetler has spoken to FOX 26 before and has been advocating for the district to make changes to their eligibility requirements.

"It’s definitely a step in the right direction. To my understanding, they restored routes to thousands of students. They rerouted routes for about 30,000 students. So they restored 3 percent of students that had lost their routes," Jarred Hostetler, said.

FOX 26's previous reporting 

Timeline:

August 21: Cy-Fair ISD families voice concerns over cut school bus routes: 'JUST FIX IT'

August 22: Cy-Fair ISD parents raise safety concerns, say budget cuts lead to risky walks for students

October 6: Concerns rise as 3 Cy-Fair ISD students struck by vehicle

November 15: Cy-Fair ISD elementary student struck by vehicle, parent advocates for safety measures

April 25: Cy-Fair ISD reinstates some bus routes for middle school students

Keeping track

Dig deeper:

Hostetler has been tracking down all reported crashes in CFISD and created this Excel spreadsheet.

FOX 26 asked CFISD how many crashes involving students in the school year had been reported to the district, and they referred us to submit an open records request. 

What led to this change?

What we know:

FOX 26 asked the district what led to the change in eligibility requirements and the district said:

"Our leadership team and Board of Trustees have actively taken steps throughout the year to address community concerns regarding areas ineligible for transportation. Additionally, CFISD has experienced a substantial deficiency in the number of available bus drivers. Positive developments throughout the year have included extensive collaboration with Precincts 3 and 4 to install additional sidewalks surrounding many of our schools and a Board-approved increase in the bus driver pay rate in November. Due to the competitive new pay rate, CFISD is better aligned with current market conditions for CDL drivers, and we have experienced a significant increase in applications. New hires have completed CDL training and are being assigned routes. At current staffing levels, we are able to provide additional services to many of our middle school students using the proposed change to our Transportation Plan as a guide."

Previously, the district said funding was the reason for the change. So, FOX 26 asked: Where will this money come from to support transportation change?

"Operational efficiencies in the transportation department this school year."

The other side:

FOX 26 reached out to Cy-Fair ISD for a statement on the eligibility changes and the district said:

"Eligibility for CFISD transportation services remains as one or more miles for elementary students and two or more miles for secondary students. Transportation is provided under defined hazardous traffic conditions for elementary students living within one mile of their home campus and secondary students living within two miles of their home campus.

Beginning next week, the district will be changing the eligibility of many of our middle school students based on a proposed change to our 2024-2025 Transportation Plan. This change would extend eligibility to middle school students who live within two miles but whose path to school would include walking along a moderate to heavily traveled thoroughfare without a safe walking path."

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