The length of bus routes – particularly for young children – have been raised often in the wake of the Warren County School District’s decision to close the Sheffield and Youngsville middle/high school buildings.

They were raised again Monday during a closure hearing for Youngsville Middle School, whose students will be moving back into the Youngsville Elementary School building.

“The decision to close our high school and consolidate to another school isn’t just affecting high school students,” said Wendy Wilcox, Youngsville borough manager. “It’s going to impact every child — even down to our little littles. With this new bus schedule, they are going to have to increase their school day by at least an hour to an hour and a half.”

Another parent, Mistie Moore also expressed concern about the length of time kindergarteners would be away from home due to extended bus schedules.

“You’re asking a child to leave their home and not return for 10 hours-and when you factor in the time they have to wake up, it’s 11 hours and 5 minutes for a small child,” Moore said. “That’s a lot for anyone, especially a small child.”

The school district has conducted an analysis of its 11 bus routes serving Youngsville Elementary School and Youngsville Middle High School. Using GPS data, the district reviewed each route’s length and travel time, with a focus on reducing student commute times.

To ensure that no route exceeds 40 minutes, the district plans to add vans to supplement existing buses where necessary. This adjustment is aimed at improving efficiency and ensuring students arrive at school in a timely manner.

Youngsville Elementary School serves as the central transfer point for all students on these routes. The earliest pickups will begin at 6:40 a.m., with some students already experiencing similar pickup times. All buses should arrive at Youngsville Elementary by 7:20 a.m. to facilitate smooth transitions. Eisenhower students will immediately board transfer buses upon arrival, as they operate on the tightest schedule. Other students will either disembark at Youngsville Elementary or transfer to buses heading to the Warren County Career Center or Warren Area High School.

Transportation Plan for Youngsville and Eisenhower: Up to six vans may be added to keep every bus route within the 40-minute limit. Students from Tidioute and surrounding areas already utilize a van or transfer system. Eisenhower and career center students will transition to their respective buses at Youngsville Elementary School.

Sheffield High School to Warren Area High SchoolRoute Adjustments: Currently, 106 students in ninth through 12th grades are transported to Warren Area High School on three buses and one van. Moving forward, students will return home directly from Warren Area High School at the end of the day, eliminating the mid-day transportation currently in place.

While the district has finalized bus routes and schedules for the upcoming school year, actual routes will not be published for security reasons. Parents may request their child’s specific bus and stop times by contacting the WCSD Transportation Office at 814-723-6900, ext. 8.

Michael Kiehl, Assistant Director of Business Services for WCSD, emphasized the district’s commitment to student safety and efficiency, ensuring that all routes are carefully mapped and adjusted for optimal travel times.

“Our goal is to provide safe and efficient transportation for all students while minimizing long bus rides,” Kiehl said. “By analyzing GPS data and strategically adding vans where needed, we are making sure that no student spends more than 40 minutes commuting to or from school.”