‘Bad' students get no bus

Oct. 6, 2006

By Michael Rovito

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Bad behavior has prompted Mat-Su School District officials to suspend bus service between Wasilla High School and Burchell High School for 10 days starting today.

Assistant Superintendent George Troxel said Thursday that consistent behavior problems from some Burchell students gave the district no choice but to suspend the service and regroup.

&#8220Our first couple months of school here, there've been some inappropriate behavior issues that have come up,” Troxel said.

Because of those issues - including smoking on the bus, refusal to follow directions and wandering Wasilla High School when told not to - Troxel said the district chose suspension.

Burchell High School students are bused from Wasilla High School to their school after they are picked up at regular stops around the area. The system has been in place for about four years, according to WHS Principal Dwight Probasco.

Probasco said he agrees with the district's decision to suspend bus service for Burchell students, because it might be the only way to suppress the

problem.

&#8220I think if it's what it takes to bring about change, it's good,” Probasco said. &#8220Transportation is not a right, it's a

privilege.”

He added that problems usually come from a group of 30 students, who tend to hang around the WHS parking lot and who have a general disregard for authority.

&#8220We're not going to step away from what we see as very reasonable expectations,” Probasco said.

Burchell's administration is seeking measures to prevent further incidents.

Burchell Principal Dave Holmquist said he thinks it may be time to find another transfer site for his students.

&#8220I think we can work things out,” Holmquist said, adding that he'd hate to see a 10-day bus suspension hurt his school's attendance record.

Troxel, however, said changing the transfer point is not as easy as it sounds, citing issues such as cost, the already established central location of WHS, and other district concerns. He said Burchell's attendance record was considered before the suspension order was given, and the district's first allegiance is to the proper functioning of Wasilla High School.

A number of measures have been taken in the past to curtail behavior problems with the Burchell bus, Troxel said.

Some of those measures include sharing information about desired behavior with students, and offering methods to remedy inappropriate behavior.

Both principals, Troxel and other transportation officials will meet today to discuss solutions to the ongoing problem.

Burchell High School touts itself as a unique school program that provides individualized learning and guidance for a diverse student body, according to the school's Web site.

The school has special programs - including parenting education and a licensed daycare - and conducts night classes for students who work full-time or have other obligations that keep them out of daytime high school.

Burchell is the only school in the Mat-Su that will receive federal grants to continue its program, according to school-supplied information.

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@

frontiersman.com.