In April of 2019, Cleveland City Schools Director of Operations Hal Taylor presented the
Cleveland City School Board of Education with a transportation plan that included Parent
Responsibility Zones. This was suggested to reduce the number of students being
transported daily on Cleveland City School buses. The State of Tennessee only supplies BEP
funding for students who live more than 1.5 miles from their school. Until the recent past, this
was not enforced by the state. Currently there are numerous students who ride CCS buses who
live within that 1.5 mile parameter.
Officials said, "The City of Cleveland has consistently worked on building more sidewalks to create safe paths for pedestrians to travel. This is a work in progress and eventually will allow the BOE to adopt these zones school by school.
"Currently, Cleveland High School has the only enforced PRZ in the city. The Cleveland/Bradley
County Greenway makes it possible for many CHS students to ride their bikes or walk to school.
Also, there is a sidewalk from Peerless Road to Paul Huff Parkway.
"While at some point in the future PRZs will be enforced, that will not take place during the 2020-
2021 school year. In the meantime, progress is being made on sidewalks around Blythe Bower
Elementary and the Greenway, which offers many students access near Mayfield Elementary
and George R. Stuart Elementary.
"Cleveland City Schools thanks the Board of Education and the Mayor and City Council for their
partnership in developing Cleveland into a more walkable community."