By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – State Rep. Dan Brady is serving on a statewide task force that’s finalizing recommendations intended to give students a smoother bus ride to school.
Transportation headaches across the state, including those that Unit 5 encountered with late and overcrowded buses last year, prompted lawmakers to form that panel that will produce a report to the governor and lawmakers in two weeks. Brady told WJBC’s Sam Wood he would like to make it easier for school districts to access available buses in an emergency.
PODCAST: Listen to Sam’s interview with Brady on WJBC.
“Let’s use those vehicles that are sitting in a particular bus barn if you will, that by statute only says you can use them for certain situations (such as) special needs students, extracurricular activities and sporting events (and more),” Brady said.
Brady said Unit 5 superintendent Mark Daniel gave him the recommendation after the districts’s major transportation problems last year.
“In Unit 5’s case, that could have been something that could have been helpful,” Brady said. “It’s not there now for them.”
The 16-member task force includes lawmakers along with school and transportation officials. Brady added the task force could produce legislation in the spring.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
