The James Madison Charter Academy in Widefield District 3, Colorado, has been operating without buses for 20 years. Instead, the school relies on a carpool system involving parents and adult guardians to transport students to and from school.
Carpool System Protocol
The carpool system has a strict protocol in place for how, when, and where the carpools line up, as well as when students can leave the building and get into their vehicles. This system allows for a safe and efficient way to transport students, with some students even helping their classmates enter their vehicles at dismissal.
According to Jeff Kacena, the school’s principal, the carpool system is a cost-effective solution for the school, as operating and maintaining buses can be expensive. As a nonprofit charter school, the academy devotes most of its resources to education.
The school has an enrollment of 70 students, serving grades K-8, and allows students to arrive as early as 7 a.m. and stay as late as 6 p.m. for parents who have to be at work early or get off late.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
