Extracurriculars are like the sparkle and glitter of high school. While activities may not be as crucial as your core classes, they’re what help you find your interests. They’re what get you into college. They’re what make school fun.
But for 28% of Bellevue East students, before and after school extracurriculars are out of reach. A survey sent out by the Tom Tom found that of 112 respondents, over ¼ said that transportation was a barrier to participating in school activities. Whether it’s because someone can’t organize a carpool, doesn’t yet have their drivers license, or is unable to access a car, a lack of transportation is a real problem. There are students at our school who are denied the chance to enjoy sports, theater, dance, clubs, and more, simply because their only reliable mode of transportation is the 3:00 bus.
It’s time for this to change. Every student should have the opportunity to participate in activities to better themselves and explore their interests. According to the education site Big Future, extracurricular activities help students stand out to colleges. And even if college isn’t in the cards for a student, activities are a great way to learn job skills and develop passions.
The National Center For Education Statistics has also found that involvement in activities is associated with better attendance and higher grades. The activity options at Bellevue East range from Art Club to Skills USA to baseball. There is truly something for everyone, so everyone should have the opportunity to participate.
Additionally, many sports and clubs are still hurting for participation after the COVID pandemic. The National Education Association reports that students who experienced remote or hybrid learning in younger years are less involved in extracurricular activities now that they are older. Removing transportation barriers would be just another incentive for students to join a club or sport. Then, the more people that join, the stronger our school community and activity success would be.
Helping students join extracurriculars would bring nothing but benefits. But how can Bellevue East help students with transportation difficulties? It’s simple: make a late bus.
A late bus is offered by many other districts. For example, Beveridge Middle School in Omaha allows students to sign up for a bus that leaves school at 5:15 by filling out a survey at the end of the day. One school in Oregon reported to the National Association of Elementary School Principals that after they added a late bus, extracurricular participation increased by 200%. A late bus makes sense, is simple to organize, and would be a lifesaver for students with a lack of transportation.
The only problem is cost. Luckily, there are ways to fund those extra transportation charges. The United States Environmental Protection Agency still offers reimbursements and tax credits for clean energy vehicles, including payment for drivers. Bellevue East could apply for a clean school bus rebate and use that money to pay for new, electric buses and driver training. While these rebates may not directly fund a later route, they would at least give the district transportation savings that could be put towards a late bus.
We at the Tom Tom believe that transportation should never prevent students from reaching their full potential. We would like to see Bellevue East add a late bus for activities, so that all students have an equal opportunity to participate in sports, clubs, and more. It’s time for us to work together to help everyone get involved.
