Playing Up!

During the last legislative session, the general assembly changed the period of athletic ineligibility from 90 school days to 140 calendar days. The idea behind this change was to take into consideration students who were transferring into a school district that may operate a calendar with a 4 day school week. In essence, this change is minimal and, since we have a 5 day school week carries little consequence. However, of greater significance was an amendment to the bill that now includes a provision which would allow 8th grade students to participate in high school athletics. Today I want to explain exactly what this means and our approach here in Hudson. 

Now, I'm going to give myself the opportunity to change my position on this, but at this point I was/am uncertain this is a great idea. In fact, most of the superintendents that I've talked to in the area have expressed reservations. Furthermore, I am unable to figure out who advocated for this change. My supposition is that it may have originated in some of the smaller schools in very rural corners of the state who not only have challenging enrollment, but in those where the problem is exacerbated by an inability to field teams. If that is the driving force, which would make sense; then I can empathize and get behind the idea. However...

Let's first keep in mind what this is...and what this isn't. While we currently allow 8th grade students to participate in softball and baseball, this isn't going to be the same way it works going forward. We have to pick one or the other; and once 'rostered' on a high school team, there is no going back to the junior high level. Right now, for 8th graders playing high school baseball or softball, those athletes can flow back and forth between those rosters. But with this change in law, if a student is moved to the high school team and doesn't get to play, they can't move back down to the junior high level. 

I worry a little bit about the junior or senior in high school who has put in the time, attending the open gyms and never missing a practice. They've patiently waited for their shot. Then, they lose that starting position to an underclassman that hasn't yet stepped foot in the high school. Granted, the goal in high school athletics is to win games: so I understand the argument that the position should go to the best athlete. I also understand the argument that the purpose of junior high athletics is not just participation, but learning about sportsmanship, the rules of the game and fair play. I wonder what happens to those programs if the 'elite' athletes are promoted. Does it mean less success for those who remain? Does this in turn result in an unintended deterioration of those programs?

As has been pretty clear in this column, my position on this is anything but. Although, I admit that there is room for my view to evolve. The fact is, there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 states that already allow this. It has gone fine for them and when asked they stated, 'What's the big deal?'. What's the big deal indeed.

That rule is now in place and effective as of August 1. What that means is that districts are free to make those decisions. However, the caveat is that the regulations have not been fully promulgated by the state board of education. That means that we are still in the rulemaking process. Furthermore, our own school board has only had one reading of the proposed policy and it isn't scheduled for final approval until the August meeting. The latest guidance we have received from the school board association is that we need to take our time.

So then, in Hudson we are planning to 'slow roll' this process. However, this is they way we are currently thinking this through. First off, those decisions will be made by those best positioned to make them: the activity director, head coach, and athletic trainer. Ultimately, any decisions made will be guided by what is truly best for all of our student-athletes and the long term health of our athletic programs; not just to rush to adopt to a new rule in the interest of expediency. As rulemaking at the state level wraps up and our local board completes its review, we will keep our families informed. Our goal remains unchanged: to foster an environment where every student, whether in junior high or high school, has the opportunity to grow, compete, and succeed.

Safe, Fair, and Efficient Bus Routes

Well, it's getting to be about that time again. Late last week you should have received your welcome back letter along with instructions on registering for school. As the writing of this post, we have two and a half weeks to go before we open our doors on the 2026-2027 school year. I do hope that you have had a relaxing and enjoyable summer! Part of my respite is a few months break from writing to you each week. With today's column, you can expect that regularity to return (although it may take a few weeks to get my writing 'chops' back in shape). So, welcome back! Administrators returned to the district on Monday and we are putting the finishing touches on our preparations for the first day of school. It is going to be a spectacular year!

One of the annual tasks that we have begun to work on in earnest is the construction of our school bus routes for the year. While the basic structure of those routes remains largely intact year after year, there are new families who move into the area, others whose children are now driving to school, and those who have graduated. This year, we are contending with the anticipated bridge reconstruction on Butterfield Road that will have an impact on that bus route. Indeed there are changes to the routes every year. 

So to begin today, I want to highlight some important policy updates and clarifications regarding school bus transportation. The policy updates that have recently been adopted by the school board are focused on three guiding principles: the routes must be safe, fair, and efficient. Before getting into those policy changes, a good place to start might be a reminder about state law. Iowa Code § 285.1 mandates that public school districts provide transportation to resident K-12 students at no charge for elementary students living more than 2 miles from their designated attendance center and high school students living more than 3 miles from their designated attendance center. The law also provides a provision that districts can require a student to walk up to 3/4 of a mile to meet the bus at the assigned stop. We are proud of the fact that we are able to exceed those requirements at Hudson Schools. 

A few years back, we began offering discretionary transportation, or bus service for families that live inside the radius outlined by state law. At the same time, we have been able to do so without charge; even though state law permits the district to charge a fee to cover the pro-rata cost. We will continue to operate this service as long was we can do so in a fiscally responsible way and without the need to add additional routes to our fleet. 

Because of this, we transport a lot of students daily. In fact, twice a day we are transporting more that 400 students to and from school. As you might imagine, the organizational planning involved in this feat are incredibly complicated. The logistics become even more arduous when considering some students get on one bus in the morning and a different bus in the afternoon. Except for other random days during the week when it changes. On some days, the student may have a different arrangement. And to be clear, we are not talking about just one family. It is multiple families, and sometimes these changes aren't communicated until the afternoon; at which point it is not uncommon for that message to become lost in transit.  

This brings us to the first change in policy. If a family would like to request a change in their bus arrangement for an afternoon drop-off, we would like to know as early as possible in the morning, preferably by 8:30 a.m. This is the only way we can ensure the message gets routed through the proper channels before the end of the school day. If you require a change in afternoon transportation after that time, the best practice is to arrange to pick up your child or make arrangements for one of your other contacts to do so. All too often, the message doesn't get to the right people and we end up with a kindergarten student who normally would ride the bus home and didn't get the message that they were supposed to get off at St. Tim's that day. This is a safety issue. 

The other change that we have made in Policy 711.1 isn't really a change at all but merely a clarification: "Bus stops will be determined by the district annually and students who participate in discretionary transportation may be required to meet the school bus at the designated stop." Look, I get it. The bus may drive right by your house, turn around and come back to a stop that is two blocks away. But here is the reality of the situation. It is not efficient. Everytime we stop, it adds minutes to the route and stress on the [school bus] unit. My goal is to make as few stops as possible so I can get the bus back to school or barn in as short a timeframe as possible. Plus, it's not fair to everyone else. If I stop at one house, why not stop at all of them? Imagine how long that would take! In Twin Oaks for example, we could have upwards of 14 stops in that subdivision. Think about how much time that would take! 

Sometimes it is a balancing act when considering both safety and efficiency when constructing bus routes. For example, we limit, and try to avoid a school bus ever having to back up. We will never allow a bus to pull into a driveway and then back out onto a county blacktop or state highway. Even on gravel roads it is done sparingly. At the same time, on hard surface roads like those just described, we ensure that students don't have to cross over a highway to get on the bus. 

Building school bus routes is complicated and there are multiple variables that we must consider when determining what is safe, fair, and efficient. I also understand that our purposes may run counter to one another when it comes to what time and where the bus stops in your neighborhood. Our only ask is that you keep in mind those three guiding principles and remember: we have more than 400 students we are moving between point 'A' and point 'B'. Twice daily.