Transportation needed from Clintonville to Shiocton
By Bert Lehman
Two families who live in the Clintonville School District, but have children open enrolled into the Shiocton School District, requested that Clintonville allow Shiocton buses to transport their children.
The requests were made during the public comments portion of the Jan. 9 Clintonville School Board meeting.
Sara Bergsbaken again asked the school board to allow Shiocton buses to pick up her children within the boundaries of the Clintonville School District.
Bergsbaken and other parents in the same situation had asked the board last summer to allow Shiocton buses transport students within the Clintonville School District boundaries. The school board denied those requests, except for two families.
Bergsbaken said in 2020 she received approval from both the Shiocton and Clintonville school districts to have her children transported by Shiocton buses.
She said in 2021 when families made the requests, some were approved and some were denied, but ultimately all families were approved for that school year, but told they had to make the request each year.
She said in 2022 she made the request to the Clintonville School Board, but the request was denied.
“I don’t understand why some families were approved and others were not,” Bergsbaken said. “I understand (school board) members change and policies, but again, I got punished for something you didn’t make clear.”
She said her family operates a dairy farm, which is a 24-hour a day job, seven days a week.
“Without allowing the Shiocton bus to pick our kids up, it just makes another bump in the road for me to go around, and it’s not easy,” Bergsbaken said. “Can you please let us use the (Shiocton) bus again? This is causing problems with my family. To me it’s something that shouldn’t. I don’t understand what the big deal is to pick my kids up at my house versus picking them up at a different location. The bus is already going past (my house).”
Parent says decision makes no sense
“It makes absolutely no sense, other than you’re trying to prove a point. I think you need to focus on bigger things than where the bus picks the kids up,” Bergsbaken added.
Nicholas Oskey also lives in the Clintonville School District, and his two children open enroll into the Shiocton School District,. He also requested Shiocton buses be allowed to pick up and drop off his kids within the Clintonville School District boundaries.
He said a bus from the Shiocton School District drives past his house twice in the morning and twice in the evening, but it is not allowed to pick up or drop off his children. He said he previously lived in the Shiocton School District, but now he lives in the Clintonville School District.
“My children have attended Shiocton School District their entire life and choose to until they are graduated,” Oskey said.
Kuhn comments
Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn told the board that he was contacted by the Shiocton superintendent, and was told there may be a couple of residents who would speak at the board meeting.
“Because the school board agenda was out already it’s not an agenda item, so we won’t be taking action on anything,” Kuhn said. “You guys can let me know, along with the board president if you want to discuss it again. Our policy now states no consideration for busing. Just so you are aware of that.”
Kuhn said the topic could be added to the agenda of the next board meeting if the board wants to discuss it.
He added that he would let the Shiocton superintendent know some residents spoke at the meeting.