Vanguard First in District 214 to Eliminate Cabs From Budget

Vanguard recently switched things up a bit in the transportation department. Students who choose to stay after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays no longer take cabs home. Instead three activity buses take them home. This change was effective October 25.

In the past, students signed up for a cab by noon when they planned to stay after school. Instead, at 3:15 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there will be three buses outside the building. One goes to the north area of the district, one to the south, and one to the central. Mr. O’Brien says, “The buses are very flexible. If the stop is too far from a students house, we are able to change it.”

In this economy, everyone is trying to save money wherever they can. That’s exactly what District 214 is doing. Eventually, all schools in the district will have switched their cabs to buses. Vanguard was the first to make the movement, according to Mr. O’Brien.

Student Kayla Woodward took the activity bus a few times already and says, “I don’t mind it. The bus driver lets us put on the radio!” She went on to say, “the cabs would drop me off in front of my house. Now, I have to walk a few blocks. It’s not a problem for me, but it will be when it gets colder.”

“I hated the cabs. They would take a group of kids that live in opposite directions, so it took so long to get home. The cab drivers were really awkward, too,” states Maxene Reed.

Ms. Anzalone has the job of setting up cabs or buses, and making sure the students get on them. “Last winter, cabs would come up to forty-five minutes late. The buses are more dependable.”

According to Mr. O’Brien, the cab company Vanguard worked with in the past was not as reliable and efficient as they could have been. “The buses are on a schedule and we trust they will be here,” stated Mr. O’Brien.

Story by Annemarie Schaefer