Students face long walks home due to school bus route changes in Southern California

Students in the Ramona Unified School District in San Diego County, California, are experiencing longer walks home due to recent school bus route consolidations. Parents report that the changes are a result of an ongoing bus-driver shortage, leaving some children to walk significant distances in the heat. One sixth-grader is now facing a 3.5-mile walk after his bus stop was eliminated. Bud Kaelin, the boy's father, stated that the district deemed the old stop unsafe but did not provide an alternative. The district's policy requires middle and high school students to live more than 2.5 miles from school to qualify for bus transportation, measured in a straight line rather than by walking distance. Parents have expressed concerns about the safety of their children walking long distances, especially during a heatwave. Kaelin mentioned that he has had to leave work early to pick up his son, which has affected his job stability. Another parent, Mary Emily, noted that her daughter now has to walk about a mile to reach the next bus stop after the district cut a route. The Ramona Unified School District stated that the route changes were necessary to ensure transportation for as many students as possible amid the driver shortage.