RACINE - A new group of police, school and transportation officials has waded head-first into a daunting challenge: how to get thousands of kids to school even more quickly, safely and inexpensively than before.

The transportation safety committee, started by the Racine Unified School District, met for the first time Thursday and began sorting out nine complaints filed this school year by parents who say their children face unusual dangers as they head for school.

In their first 2 1/2 hours, the committee agreed to move one isolated bus stop, gave some parents suggestions about different routes for their students to take to school, and tossed out some complaints where the hazards weren't deemed serious enough.

In the coming months, the group will evaluate where crossing guards are located, how to address the issue of sex offenders living along school routes, and whether 37 locations on school routes that have been labeled as unusually hazardous are still that way.

"The premise is how do we get kids to school safer," said RUSD Transportation Supervisor Patrick Starken.

The committee includes Starken and representatives of the Racine police and sheriff's departments and Durham School Services, the district's busing company.

A big reason for the complaints from parents was the RUSD's move to straight line busing for the 2008-09 school year. The change eliminated 1,500 stops, consolidated other stops and cut 300 miles a day out of bus routes. Starken estimated that it saved the district $45,000.

The consequence, the district acknowledges, is that some students must walk longer distances to their stops. State law only requires RUSD to bus students who are two miles or more from school.

If an RUSD parent feels their child's route to a bus stop is unsafe, they can file a complaint with the district. If there's no resolution, it can be sent to the sheriff's department for review. If a particular street or intersection is deemed hazardous, the district can make special accommodations for students in that area.

Parents complained this year about the lack of sidewalks, busy streets and intersections, as well as possible drug activity.

In defining hazardous areas, the state considers the age of pupils, a lack of sidewalks, crossing guards or police presence, railroad crossings, narrow shoulders or roads, high traffic counts or temporary hazards like construction projects or street repairs.

Issues like criminal activity would, under state law, fall under "other conditions identified by local units of government."

A central question Starken posed to the committee is "At what age can a student walk to school unsupervised?"

"But also, how does that mesh with parental responsibility?" said Gail Bergstrom, driver care manager for Durham.

One advantage to straight line busing, Starken said, is that parents in neighborhoods are taking turns monitoring kids as they head to school.

"Everyone in the area needs to take some responsibility," he said.

Some complaints were tossed aside after the group used mapping tools to look at the streets, the signage and other information. Sheriff's deputies also gave input after visiting locations.

A complaint about a lack of sidewalks on a portion of 90th Street was tossed out because the sidewalks are now installed on 90th from Citadel Terrace to Majestic Hills Drive, said Racine County Deputy Sheriff Henry Makowka, a committee member.

A complaint about an unsafe walking area at Gallant Fox Lane and Hialeah Drive in Caledonia was also tossed turned aside. Makowka said he investigated the area and "everyone has been pretty reasonable, they're not even getting up to speed. There have been no issues with people not stopping for buses. Personally I think it is a safe route."

The group did show some flexibility. After a Mount Pleasant parent complained that motorists were ignoring a stop sign at Nature Trail and Wilderness Drive, where a bus stop is located, the committee moved the stop west a short distance to Nature Trail and Quiet Valley Court, which is a dead-end street.

Starken said he tries to put bus stops near subdivisions in central locations to save bus drivers time and allow kids to meet in a central location. In this case, only one child is using the stop.

"If it doesn't create more work, or if it's not costly, why not?" said Dan DeMatthew, manager of the Racine Police Department's administrative division.