web1_RR-logo.jpg

RailRiders stay hot at the plate, smash IronPigs in series opener

web1_football.jpg

LIVE: WVC football opening night scoreboard

<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; Barely 18 hours after a marathon session of parental complaints, Crestwood School District Acting Superintendent Joseph Rasmus said extensive revamping of bus routes has separated the runs for students attending St. Jude Elementary School so they will be picked up later and not share the ride with district high school students.</p><p>Rasmus also said a controversial stop planned at the residence of a registered sex offender has been changed, but noted it was moved 15 feet to the home driveway of the lone student being picked up there.</p><p>&#8220;All routes are complete, we are going to publish them tomorrow (Saturday), we are waiting for confirmation of the bus numbers from the contractor,&#8221; Rasmus said Friday evening. The changes &#8220;reflect the feedback some parents gave us.&#8221;</p><p>The biggest change is to give St. Jude students &#8220;their own dedicated routes,&#8221; so they should be picked up no earlier than 7:20 a.m. In a session with four board members, Rasmus and incoming Superintendent Bob Mehalick following an 8 a.m. special meeting Thursday, parents bitterly criticized schedules that had kindergarten and early-grade students at the bus stop at 6:30 or earlier.</p><p>Rasmus said not all complaints at the meeting were met with the changes, but many are, and he praised the &#8220;input and feedback from the community, and we actively welcome that to continue, because we recognize this is going to be a fluid process. Like every school year, when we start, the transportation plan doesn&#8217;t run as efficiently the first day as the tenth. We very much appreciate everyone&#8217;s flexibility.&#8221;</p><p>The sex offender issue arose late Thursday when it was discovered one stop was at an address belonging to Robert Kemler, convicted in 2006 on charges of rape and other deviate acts done between 1995 and 1998. On Friday Rasmus said the stop was to pick up a child at a neighboring house, and that it had been moved.</p><p>The district made major changes this summer, contracting a new transportation company and implementing new transportation management software, both in a relatively short time. Rasmus said the comments at the Thursday morning session were &#8220;very enlightening,&#8221; and that he felt by the end of the meeting most had agreed on a path forward in resolving issues.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_Crestwood-6.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_Crestwood-6.jpeg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Crestwood gives St. Jude own bus run, moves controversial stop