During a recent government meeting, a passionate advocate for Westgate schools raised significant concerns regarding the ongoing transportation issues affecting students and their families. The speaker, who actively volunteers and substitutes at the schools, highlighted a troubling trend of worsening transportation conditions over the past few years.

The parent outlined five key requests aimed at improving the transportation system:

1. **Bus Routes**: A commitment to maintain bus routes of one hour or less for young students.
2. **Fair Routing**: Assurance that students are picked up and dropped off in a fair manner, adhering to a \"first on, first off\" policy.
3. **GPS Tracking**: Implementation of GPS tagging on buses to allow parents to monitor arrival times.
4. **Neighborhood Group Stops**: Group stops should only be established in neighborhoods that consent to them, particularly in areas lacking safe pedestrian access.
5. **Increased Bus Availability**: A call for more buses on the road, along with better recruitment and compensation for drivers.

The speaker expressed frustration over the district's failure to meet these commitments, noting that many families rely on the bus service due to limited options. They criticized the district for not incorporating these promises into the board's policy manual, suggesting that merely meeting state minimum guidelines is insufficient.

Additionally, the speaker questioned the district's focus on academic rankings while neglecting transportation satisfaction and competitive compensation for bus drivers. They pointed out the lack of recent engagement with parents regarding transportation issues, citing a transportation survey conducted nearly two years ago that yielded no actionable feedback.

The meeting concluded with a promise from officials to revisit these concerns in future discussions, emphasizing the importance of ongoing communication with the community. The speaker expressed a willingness to continue the dialogue, underscoring the urgency of addressing transportation challenges for the benefit of Westgate families.