Editor's Note: This story has updated to include information from the school district. The school district said the family was not part of its notification process because the family was not affected by changes to the bus routes. This story has also been updated to include a comment from the family after learning their daughter would not have to walk to school.
On Friday, KSHB 41 News reported on the Independence School District making changes to its bus routes stemming from what the district described.
On Monday, KSHB 41 News spoke with Allen Hollar, who was concerned about the new route and its location.
"I’m concerned about my daughter safety getting to and from school,” Hollar said.
Hollar became worried about his daughter Grace after seeing KSHB 41's initial report regarding an email from the Independence School District about the changes.
Hollar and his family live less than a mile from Van Horn High School, where Grace is set to begin her sophomore year.
Allen created a walk path, as the district recommended in their updated information regarding bus routes, showing where Grace would have to cross Highway 24 in order to get to a sidewalk.
“24 highway is a really busy intersection and she would have to cross over the road to get to her school,” Hollar said. "24 through here is supposed to be 35-miles-per hour, everyone drives 55-50.”
In the mean time, 15-year-old Grace has her own concerns about the new route.
"You hear people yelling, you see people walking down the street with weird clothing, no clothing, its really weird,” Grace said. ”It’s not smart, it's poorly communicated.”
On Monday, KSHB 41 News reached out to the Independence School District regarding Hollar and Grace's concerns.
Students have not yet received bus passes for the school year. Because of where Grace Ribbey lives, she actually will have bus transportation service. This was never going to change. Grace Ribbey and her parents/guardians did not receive the communication about her bus route being eliminated because she was not on that list."There is no safe walkway for her, so her transportation service was never in jeopardy of being eliminated. This is the same safety policy that applies to all students, and that has not changed with the extension of our walk boundary.
However, after receiving a notice from the Independent School District, we did inform Hollar and Grace of this update from the district.
The family says they are happy Grace will not have to walk.
The district said the reason why the family was not notified is because the student was not impacted.
—
