MCHS TEACHER WAYNE FORSYTHE (LEFT) AND MARIPOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY KEVIN PACKARD DEAL WITH YOUTH WHO DON’T BELONG NEAR THE SCHOOL BUS TURNAROUND AT THE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS WORKING ON A PLAN TO ALLEVIATE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS ON SCHOOL BUSES. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER It’s kind of like there’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s adopted a zero-tolerance policy in terms of rude behavior, foul language and general disrespect around Mariposa County Unified School District buses. Beginning last week, a team of MCHS teachers, led by Wayne Forsythe, took on the issue at the school bus transfer area and literally turned it around.

The bus turnaround at Mariposa County High School has been the place for some troubling behavior, much of it coming from students who have no business in the area because they attend other schools or are not in school at all. The Mariposa County Unified School District has been working on rectifying the problems and behavioral issues and is closer to a solution.

MARIPOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S SERGEANT MARK JONES TALKS WITH A STUDENT WHO WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE BUS TURNAROUND AREA ON TUESDAY BUT TRIED TO RETURN. A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AREA BY PROBATION AND DEPUTIES IN RECENT DAYS. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER For Forsythe, the impetus behind the mission is simple. “We just want to get the kids on the bus in a safe, efficient manner,” he said after supervising the loading area on Tuesday. He said there is no reason that any young student, bus driver or staff member should have to tolerate the language and blatant disrespect that has been occurring.

Already, the number of problems in the area had decreased, but there were still a few issues that Mariposa County Sheriff’s deputies had to handle.

Mariposa County Sheriff Brian Muller is happy to help with the issue. "We appreciate the concerns of school staff in dealing with local youth who have no legitimate business being on the school grounds or around the buses,” he said. “School staff members are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for their students, and it is our duty to assist and support them in their efforts."

Muller continued, “School staff should not have to tolerate the disrespectful attitude, vulgar language and defiant actions of these individuals. We are prepared to provide assistance to the district in identifying those youth who are creating problems, and we will take immediate enforcement action when appropriate.”

MCUSD’s complicated bus schedule has, until this week, made a long wait for Spring Hill High School students at the turnaround. They are often joined by students from the adjacent Sierra Home School site and others who flat don’t belong there. Some teens get a ride to the area and have no connection to the school or buses.

A quick meeting last week between administration and transportation officials solved part of that. The bus now leaves SHHS 10 minutes later. The school’s daily bulletin also warns loiterers that they will be cited if they are in the area.

Meanwhile, the school district has been working to rectify all kinds of behavioral problems on the buses which travel some 1,600 miles every day. Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Bob Morse said the issue was originally brought up by a board member, and he established a committee to deal with it. It consists of bus drivers, substitute drivers and administration. Tom Audas is the committee’s chairperson.

Audas said the committee saw a need to increase communication between transportation and the school sites.

Morse said, “It’s coming along. We’ve made some progress.” His department is working on a manual for school sites and bus drivers that he hopes will be ready for the next school year.

Morse said some of the problems on the buses are skateboard issues, roughhousing and students picking on each other. Audas said he has seen a bit more vandalism to buses this year, too.

For a while earlier this year, the bus that takes students back to the Lake Don Pedro area was of particular concern. Morse said there were “some pretty big issues” on the route that can be as long as an hour and a half for some students.

Things have changed, however. “Those kids have done an about face. They’ve really turned it around.”

Morse joined Forsythe and other faculty at the bus turnaround on Tuesday. He said the message is a simple one. “If you’re not getting on a bus, you’re not hanging around here. We’re sending you down the road.”

Morse said school bus transportation remains at the top of the safest ways to travel. “It’s still safer to ride a school bus than to walk, ride a bike or get a ride to school,” he said.