Reply about busing from Cathy Molumby

               A week or two ago, I put a letter in the Elgin Echo where I asked about those who are open enrolling their kids from Valley to North Fayette. Valley “closed” it’s borders to outside buses. Schools who do this are advised to close their borders to discourage people from open enrolling out. There is this belief that if only they can keep people in the school, they will see that it isn’t “so bad” and they will then choose to remain.

               Since we will be having buses coming back and forth from North Fayette already, I wondered if those families would be allowed to use the bus as opposed to those of us who are open enrolling out and have to take our kids to school at a greatly added expense.

               Mrs. Molumby e-mailed me her response and CC’d it to Duane Willhite at North Fayette. I appreciate Mrs. Molumby sending the message to me and I will post it here for the rest of you. Below is her response, copy and pasted.

                                                                                                                                       -Eric 

Hello, Mr. Durnan,

I thought I would let you know some of the information that you were wondering about as referenced in your letter to the editor in last week's newspaper.

The Board's decision to keep the borders of the Valley district closed at the February board meeting includes all districts.  In fact, as part of the Iowa code guidance regarding Open Enrollment in Chapter 17, specifically 381--17.9(282) Transportation, it specifically outlines that, "Bus routes transporting pupils for the purpose of whole-grade sharing shall not be used to transport open enrollment pupils for the portin of the route that is within the resident district unless the boards of directors of the resident and receiving districts have both taken action to approve such an arrangement."  Hence, the Valley Board's vote to sustain closed borders remain in place even in the whole grade sharing arrangement.

Just wanted to provide you information you questioned in the newspaper.  You can gain information by contacting the school offices as well.

Sincerely,

--
Cathy Molumby, Superintendent

Valley Community School

23493 Canoe Road

Elgin, Iowa 52141

Ph: 563-426-5501 

“The success of change is largely determined by your attitude about change.”  ~David Cottrell "Monday Morning Mentoring"

"The pessimist complains about the wind.  The optimist expects it to change.  The leader adjusts the sails."  ~ John Maxwell