By Edmee CR Hasler
The Salem City Schools Transportation Department is committed to safely transporting students to and from school, with students assigned to bus routes and stops based on their home addresses. The Salem School Board approved the following revision during the Aug. 13 meeting:
Key bus stop guidelines:
- Elementary students may walk up to 0.3 miles to their bus stop, while secondary students may walk up to 0.5 miles.
- School buses will not stop within 300 feet of another bus stop unless a significant safety concern is identified.
- Bus routes and stops aim to avoid private property whenever possible.
- Students should arrive at their bus stop at least 5 minutes before pickup, with parents encouraged to accompany younger children. In the afternoon, an adult must be present to receive preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade students. If no adult is present, the student will be returned to their school.
For students attending non-home schools or using alternate drop-off locations, transportation may be available if the bus has capacity and the stop is part of the current route. Parents must provide a signed School Bus Pass for such arrangements.
Salem has designated walk zones for three schools: Salem High School, Andrew Lewis Middle School, and G.W. Carver.
Special needs transportation is tailored to individual requirements, with door-to-door service available when needed. Parents may be required to be present at the bus stop, depending on the student’s transportation plan.
The department also offers limited transportation to day care centers that are on existing bus routes, with priority given to students residing on the route. Transportation requests for newly established day care centers will not be considered until the following school year.
For concerns or appeals related to transportation services, parents can contact the Transportation Supervisor, with further review available through the Assistant Superintendent if needed.
The Salem City School Board also introduced a new personal leave policy for the 2024-2025 school year, offering three days of paid personal leave for all full-time professional and support staff, including school nurses. This policy applies to employees on ten, ten-and-a-half, or eleven-month contracts.
Key details of the policy:
- Personal leave can only be taken after the employee has started their contracted work year.
- The leave cannot be used on the day before or after a holiday or non-school day and must be approved in advance by the school principal or supervisor.
- Requests for personal leave should be submitted at least one week in advance. However, exceptions may be made if the request can be accommodated with minimal disruption.
In cases where granting personal leave could lead to a shortage of substitutes for emergencies, the principal or supervisor may ask the employee to reschedule the leave. In extreme circumstances, approved leave may be denied.
The policy distinguishes between eligible and ineligible employees based on their direct interaction with students. Eligible employees, such as administrators and office aides, may take leave in one-hour increments, while ineligible employees, including teachers and librarians, must take leave in half-day or full-day increments.
Unused personal leave will not carry over to the next school year. Instead, any unused leave will be converted to sick leave at the end of the school year or paid out at the employee’s daily rate of pay. The policy is part of a pilot program set to expire on June 30, 2025, unless extended by the School Board.
The Superintendent has the authority to grant exceptions to this policy as needed.
In student success matters, Salem High School sophomore Drew Perez was recognized for an almost flawless tennis season. Perez won the Class 4 Boys Tennis Singles State Championship on Saturday, June 8, at Huntington Park in Newport News. Perez secured the state title with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory over Broad Run’s Neel Pasunuri, finishing the season with an impressive 20-1 record.
In addition to his state championship, Perez was selected for the All-State Boys’ Team, a remarkable achievement for the young athlete. The community eagerly anticipates his future contributions to his sport, team, and school.
