It’s 8:00 a.m. and students are faced with honking, illegal U-turns, and police microphones blaring at parents double parked in their SUVs along Kingsbury and Zelzah. The infamous traffic jam of Granada Hills Charter (GHC) is all too familiar to students, staff, and parents alike. For those students not being dropped off, there is an added daily struggle to search for a parking spot, whether it’s finding street parking, illegally parking in the nearby shopping center, or if they’re lucky, securing a space on campus.
Already scarce, GHC’s parking situation has become even more challenging this year due to construction which has claimed the Hiawatha St. lot near the tennis courts as a staging area. Due to insufficient space, the senior parking permit lottery for the 2024-2025 school year was canceled.
However, for students who don’t drive themselves to GHC, relying on public transportation presents its own set of daily obstacles—safety concerns, unpredictable schedules, and awkward situations. Junior Keith Hester experienced this firsthand when his bus crashed on the way to school. Despite arriving just 15 minutes late for a legitimate reason, the school denied him a tardy pass. He received an unexcused absence and a creaky seat in the infamous A5.
“Back in middle school, they’d excuse us if the school bus was late,” Hester said. “It’s frustrating that they don’t do the same for public bus delays, especially when it’s completely out of our control. It’s not my fault that the bus was delayed.”
To address this issue, GHC should consider implementing school buses to better support students facing these challenges. Such a change would not only assist students dealing with delays but would also ensure that students are not unfairly penalized for circumstances beyond their control, while also guaranteeing their safe and timely arrival to school.
Implementing school buses on GHC’s campus would also help ease traffic congestion before and after school. For example, with an average of forty-five seats per bus, each bus could reduce the number of cars on the road by forty-five. With two buses, this number would double, significantly alleviating traffic during rush hours and freeing up more parking for staff and students.
Fewer cars on the road would also lower the risk of accidents. With less traffic congestion, students and staff could enjoy a quicker, more efficient ride to school.
However, according to Chief Operations Officer Norm Holloway, the school’s logistical issues present challenges to the idea.
There are several challenges and barriers that need to be carefully considered including cost, driver shortages, safety concerns, and logistical issues. Additionally, regulatory and compliance challenges, as well as the importance of equity and accessibility, could further pose some challenges,” Holloway said.
An LA Times article by Mackenzie Mays, titled “California is richer than ever. Why is it last in the nation for school bus access?” highlights that the state covers only a small portion of transportation costs for schools. This rate has remained unchanged since 1981, despite soaring inflation, rising demand, sharp increases in gas prices, and a record-high state budget surplus. This budget constraint significantly impacts GHC’s ability to introduce school bus services to the campus.
Although budget constraints are a challenge, the benefits of implementing school buses at GHC make it worth considering options. As GHC continues to grow in student population as well as faculty size, these transportation issues should be addressed. Funding a school bus system could be the solution to many of the daily challenges faced by students, staff, and parents.
“GHC is eager to explore potential solutions that can address these barriers,” Holloway said. “GHC is confident that with a collaborative effort, we can find ways to improve our student transportation system.”
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