Local school district unveils new transportation plan that will impact thousands of families

Dayton Public Schools has unveiled a new busing map. It's part of a new plan that will impact thousands of families. Good evening. I'm Gabrielle Enron. I'm James Brown. Show McHenry is on special assignment. The district said it is committed to fixing one of its biggest problems. That's getting kids to the right school. On time NEWS CENTER 7's John Bedell joins us live. And, John, we've been covering these blessing problems for years. Here we have Gabby and James. We've done plenty of story issues over the impact of buses here at their transportation department on James H McGee, but we've also covered solutions. We first told you about this new plan in April and now we're getting our first look at the new busing map that's supposed to help improve busing. Jquila Walton has two kids at Dayton Public Schools. I have one going to 7th grade and I have one going to 3rd, so I have middle and elementary. For a single working mom, she says it's a challenge getting both kids out the door each morning. Two different buildings, two different hours, two different buses. It's very hard. She showed me on her phone the information she's been getting from the district on a new busing plan. It's supposed to help make things easier for thousands of families like hers. Just within the last week or so, I've just received some notices on Parent Square about the new tier zone, the bail schedule, and the school business. As we first reported earlier this spring, DPS is switching from 4 transportation zones to two North and South. Under the old system, K to 8 students had to go to a school in the zone they lived in to get school bus transportation through the district. DPS says the new approach is aimed at giving families more school options. Plus, allowing siblings to ride together when it's possible and making district transportation more efficient. But I found some confusion. As the new system rolls out, Jaquela told me the changes will actually make it harder on her. She thinks it means her 7th grader will be without a school bus. I believe I will have to take one kid to school. I will have to transport one kid and then the other kid will be able to ride the bus. Attendant First First told us back in the spring, told our Mike Campbell that this will be the first step. In overhauling the district's transportation system and at their ultimate goal is to transport all their students K to 12. But this move only impacts K to 8. The district told me today high schoolers will still have to use the RTA busing system. We're live in Dayton tonight. I'm John Bell, new center 7.