In the near future, some young children can count on shorter bus rides, according to members of the group Challenge West Virginia.

A bill that passed both houses of the Legislature will set a maximum limit of one hour on one-way bus rides to school for elementary school children.

The bill calls for rides of 30 minutes, which is in line with state recommendations. Still, county school board members cannot draw up new bus routes if a student's trip exceeds 45 minutes.

If a new route exceeds 45 minutes, the county needs state Board of Education approval.

The bill, however, is not retroactive and applies only to those schools that open after July 1 and use School Building Authority funds.

"What we're saying is it's not OK to bus them over an hour," said Challenge West Virginia coordinator Thomas Ramey. "We're really happy because that's exactly what we said over and over. We have to get a process started to stop future consolidations."

Members of Ramey's group push for small, community-based schools and often oppose consolidation.

"It's about time we did something to stop these tortuous, long bus rides," said Jana Freeman, a Challenge community organizer from Preston County. "This bill is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done."

She said many Preston County high school students are bused 90 minutes to and from school each day. Elementary and high school consolidation led to the lengthy bus rides, Freeman said.

This session, Ramey said Challenge organizers first approached Gov. Joe Manchin and leaders in the House of Delegates and state Senate.              

In the near future, some young children can count on shorter bus rides, according to members of the group Challenge West Virginia.

A bill that passed both houses of the Legislature will set a maximum limit of one hour on one-way bus rides to school for elementary school children.

The bill calls for rides of 30 minutes, which is in line with state recommendations. Still, county school board members cannot draw up new bus routes if a student's trip exceeds 45 minutes.

If a new route exceeds 45 minutes, the county needs state Board of Education approval.

The bill, however, is not retroactive and applies only to those schools that open after July 1 and use School Building Authority funds.

"What we're saying is it's not OK to bus them over an hour," said Challenge West Virginia coordinator Thomas Ramey. "We're really happy because that's exactly what we said over and over. We have to get a process started to stop future consolidations."

Members of Ramey's group push for small, community-based schools and often oppose consolidation.

"It's about time we did something to stop these tortuous, long bus rides," said Jana Freeman, a Challenge community organizer from Preston County. "This bill is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done."

She said many Preston County high school students are bused 90 minutes to and from school each day. Elementary and high school consolidation led to the lengthy bus rides, Freeman said.

This session, Ramey said Challenge organizers first approached Gov. Joe Manchin and leaders in the House of Delegates and state Senate.              

"We got tired of going to the Legislature and introducing bills that didn't have a chance of passing," he said.

Manchin supports the bill, spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said. She anticipates a signing ceremony after his staff has checked its technical language.

"It is a bill that the governor has strongly supported for some time," she said. "It's a topic he's been on board with. It's just taken a little time for it to move through the Legislature."

Mark Manchin, director of the School Building Authority and the governor's cousin, said his agency already thinks about lengthy bus rides when they fund new schools. 

"We all agree that [one hour] is way too long," he said. "An hour is too long, particularly for small children. It should not be more than a half hour."

Misty Pritt, a Challenge West Virginia representative from Gilmer County, said local board of education members across the state often feel like their hands are tied when they make decisions. Several called her and said the new bill gave them hope.

"This is a huge win for children across the state of West Virginia," she said.

Ramsburg noted Challenge West Virginia's work to pass the bill.

"They've never wavered from their commitment to this bill and should be given credit for that," she said. 

To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.