RAPID CITY, SD — RCAS announced yesterday that in partnership with Gauge Consulting they have redeveloped the bussing routes for the 2025-26 school year, eliminating approximately 120 stops
According to Chief Financial and Operations Officer Coy Sasse this decision followed analysis by the logistical group which indicated that previous routes had three times the number of stops on average per capita and 50% or less capacity overall, prompting the change.
Sasse also indicated that the physical logistics and the continuing need for part time bus drivers was a deciding factor in the change. “I think the square mileage of our district is something like 134 miles. So it’s this really massive area. When you think about transportation being provided for every student that is two and a half miles away from their school, it really is a very large logistical operation, and so, for example, we have routes going all the way out on NEMO road, if you’re familiar with Nemo road in the valley, all the way out to computer hermosa area. So it’s just this vast geographic area. So Sioux Falls, for example, more than double our student population. Their bussing function is about half of what ours looks like in terms of routes and drivers and all those things, because they’re they’re more compact, they’ve grown upwards instead of outwards,” said Sasse.
Though Sasse has said he has received concerns from parents on the change, he has indicated that continued issues with federal funding have not significantly contributed to the reduction of stops, and that all families currently receiving bussing will still have transportation under this new route map, and that families over 2.5 miles from their child’s school will still be able to receive bussing, in excess of state law’s required 5+ mile bussing requirements.