Updated 8:52 a.m. CST April 18, 2014

The Leander ISD school board approved an updated list of hazardous bus routes April 17.

Original story

The Leander ISD school board on April 3 discussed discontinuing bus service to routes within two miles of Bush Elementary School and Cedar Park High School.

District transportation staff annually analyzes and reviews transportation services to areas that are deemed hazardous because of a lack of sidewalks, major roadway barriers, topographical impediments and other factors. Students who live within a two-mile radius of their schools are not offered bus service unless LISD considers the walking route unsafe.

Staff recommended canceling shuttle service from Bush Elementary School to the Hancock Hills subdivision, specifically the afternoon bus stop at Grimes Ranch Road and Grimes Ranch Court. Staff determined the stop does not score high enough on the district's hazardous routing assessment checklist to warrant busing students. Accessible routes are available, staff said in its report to the board.

Transportation service to the Bella Vista and Volente Hills neighborhoods will also be discontinued if the board approves the recommendation April 17. Students can access the school on newly constructed sidewalks on Dies Ranch and Anderson Mill roads, staff said.

Upon the opening of Reed Elementary School in the fall, staff recommends deeming the immediate area around the campus safe, but outside the Red Oaks neighborhood hazardous, said Ellen Skoviera, assistant superintendent for business and operations.

"We are not going to have children crossing Cypress Creek Road. That would be deemed hazardous," she said.

Staff recommended maintaining an unsafe designation on 16 existing routes, where bus service will continue to be provided in the 2014–15 school year. Maps of the routes are available from the district website.