In response to concerns from the public, the Wright City R-II School District discussed the possibility of amending its transportation policy during its monthly meeting on March 17.The board talked at length about the current standing policy, which allows each child to be assigned to just one bus stop. After deciding they needed more information and time to develop the details of a potential amendment, the board tabled the discussion until its April meeting.Concerns were addressed by a set of divorced parents during the patron comments portion of the meeting. Richard Gouge and his ex-wife Toni Irvin, who both reside in the district, said their daughter had been able to ride the bus to each of their homes within the district until recently, when documentation from a board decision from April 2012 was clarified and put into affect.“We are just looking for consideration to be able for our daughter, as well as others who are in a divorced situation, to be able to have two bus stops,” said Irvin.The board discussed the matter, hearing from building administrators about the potential concerns that could arise from allowing parents to change bus schedules or have alternating stops.“When we talked to the school offices, they were very concerned about the volume of calls that were hitting them, especially with last-minute changes,” said Superintendent David Buck. “That’s their fear of opening up two stops.”It was established through further discussion that the request being made wasn’t to allow changes in the short-term but rather to permit parents to set up a prearranged alternating schedule. “What they’re asking for and what I heard as concerns from administrators are two completely different things,” said Board President Austin Jones.The board discussed possible guidelines for a change, including a cutoff time for notifying the school, as well as who would or would not be eligible for the service.“I can see adapting the situation to include joint legal physical custody,” said member Corri Ruge. “I don’t understand why all the last-minute changes are taking place, and I don’t think that’s a practical way to handle it.”Other members reflected her idea of allowing the service solely for parents who have legal custody, reside in the district and provide proper documentation to the district prior to the school year. Member Mary Groeper, who was on the board when the 2012 proposal was adopted, says she feels comfortable with the existing policy.“It had to be,” said Groeper. “For the safety of all children, we needed to know where they were going. I’m sympathetic to the situation, but I think we need to just stick with the policy we have now.”The board struggled to come to a definite conclusion, requesting Buck acquire more information concerning legalities and documentation of divorces, as well as feedback from how surrounding districts have handled similar situations before moving forward with a decision.School bus