I do wish the Record-Bee would have taken the time to attend recent Konocti Unified School District board meetings to hear the discussion regarding bus routes before publishing an article recounting a board decision to cut bus routes in 2002.

The current board and the current superintendent place the highest value on student safety. Over the course of three meetings where we looked at various scenarios we agreed that requiring students to walk to school on streets that are unpaved, without street lights, curbs or sidewalks and cross busy streets without crosswalks or lights was a significant hazard. We agreed that eliminating bus service to remote outlying areas might cause a decrease in attendance and limit educational time for those students.

Because our transportation budget does encroach on the general fund, we also agreed that we would pursue other ways to cut costs and increase revenue. We will investigate the purchase of smaller, fuel efficient buses to use on those remote routes. We will continue to work on developing the most efficient bus routes to maximize fuel and minimize driver time. We will continue to move towards consolidating purchases of tires, fuel and other supplies with other districts, the county and the city of Clearlake.

Last spring the California legislature proposed a 65 percent cut to the transportation funds districts receive. (State money does not completely fund transportation costs, districts must back fill with general fund money.) Legislators were focused on big urban districts like LA Unified and San Francisco where there are public transportation options – like the subway and bus – for students. Rural students do not have these options.

The final transportation cut was "only" 20 percent. Not as deep, but still a hardship, and money we will have to find somewhere. But parents and the community can rest assured that we will not be cutting routes or increasing walking distances.

I sincerely wish the Record-Bee could put aside ancient prejudices and lay old stereotypes to rest. I am very proud to be a trustee for the Konocti Unified School District. The real news about our district is what's happening with vocational education, music, standards based instruction, our neighborhood schools, and increased alternative education opportunities – not a board decision seven years ago.

Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake.