A transportation needs assessment survey found a majority of respondents liked the idea of a local bus service, but it's by no means clear how many people would actually use such a service if it did eventually replace existing Tri-Met service.

The Canby Community Transportation Needs Assessment received 507 completed surveys, including eight from Spanish-speakers, from the 2,000 households randomly mailed surveys in June.

The most frequent response from people surveyed was the desire to see a non-stop bus service from Canby to Portland and back, followed by "Canby system would be useful," "no benefit from Tri-Met service," "hours of service should be extended," and "only use a car."

The Portland State University survey found the most frequent workplace locations for Canby residents were in town and Portland, followed by Wilsonville, Salem, and Oregon City, according to survey report author Thomas Sanchez of PSU's Center for Urban Studies.

More than 60 percent of local residents surveyed work outside Canby, Sanchez found.

PSU's final survey is due to be submitted to the Planning Commission and City Council in late November or early December.

Canby residents do not frequently use Tri-Met bus Nos. 79 and 35, the survey found.

"Small numbers of respondents reported that they use the No. 79 bus . . . (and) it appears that ridership is most often on a weekly basis," he wrote. "In addition, only 7.4 percent of respondents reported that they use the No. 35 bus. Relatively few of these persons reported that they use the service more than once per month."

The survey found more people said they would use morning non-stop service to Portland, compared to midday or evening service.

"The reported frequency of use for this service appears significantly higher than does the frequency shown for Tri-Met route Nos. 79 and 35," the report found. "Nearly 30 percent of respondents reported they would use morning non-stop (bus) service to Portland. Weekdays were the most desired days of service."

If a local shuttle service were offered within Canby, the most popular destinations would be to downtown, the 99E commercial area, the Thirteenth Avenue and Ivy Street area, and the high school area.

"Nearly half of the respondents reported that they would use the shuttle to visit the downtown," the survey found. "Other areas (St. Patrick's Church area, southeast quadrant, and Maple Street Park) were identified as potential destinations by approximately 10 percent of respondents.

''If the city were to offer regularly scheduled service to the I-5 corridor, a greater proportion of households would benefit from service to the Wilsonville area and north (32.5 percent), compared to the Aurora area and south (20.7 percent). Another 25 percent reported they would benefit very little from service either to the north or south."

While some people said they would use a local bus service with better routes and schedules, most do not currently use Tri-Met.

"Of all the households in the (survey) sample, 76 percent reported that they never use bus service, while 72 percent of the low-vehicle ownership households reported they never use bus service," the report found.

"Access to transit can provide important links to health care, child care, job training, education, employment concentration, and other services unavailable to persons with limited transportation options."

The survey deemed some people would use a bus service for work and play.

"There is demand for non-work travel to Oregon City, Portland, Wilsonville (north) and Aurora (south)," Sanchez reported. "While on average these trips do not occur on a daily basis, responses suggest they occur at least on a weekly basis."

Also, residents walk and bike frequently for local travel, but the use of carpools, bus service and taxis occurs much less frequently.

About one out of four Canby households surveyed returned a completed 13-question survey questionnaire, which focused on travel patterns, desired needs and existing public transportation services.

The survey concluded with the following observations: "In general, the results of the survey suggest that the city of Canby has certain transportation mobility needs. Unlike large cities, which must make major investments in order to see results, Canby is small enough that pilot projects and incremental service additions can be tested and modified as demand warrants.

''A local shuttle system would effectively connect the quadrants of the city, as well as serving specific locations, such as downtown, the 99E commercial corridor, and schools.

''Being small in size, and having identifiable locations showing demand for transit service, Canby can also take advantage of flexible service options.

''These include vanpool services for targeted populations, such as seniors and the disabled, demand responsive route deviation, along with community circulator-type service.

''It is likely that any combination of these services will provide better coverage and local connectivity than does the current fixed route service.

''Besides local circulation needs, the results of the survey suggest that more direct and efficient connections are desired to Portland, Wilsonville, and the I-5 corridor (in both north and south directions).

''Locally provided express service, again based upon small operating resources, may be more responsive to local needs compared to the current service.

''Shuttle service focused on weekday peak hours, as well as some weekend service, appears to be in demand.

''As Canby continues to grow, it will be important to serve local mobility needs, as well as maintaining good connections to regional employment locations, shopping and recreational locations.

''The purpose of this survey was to gauge the needs and opinions of Canby residents. If it is concluded that there is sufficient demand for locally provided transportation service, Canby would then need to examine the economic feasibility of different service options.

''This would involve an analysis of estimated numbers of rides, the origins and destinations of these rides, and the appropriate route/service alternatives.

''This planning is likely best done through a service operator experienced with small towns and needs similar to those of Canby."

The Canby Public Transportation Task Force was formed to gather public input, and it has subcommittees researching, discussing and assessing: commuter use, including adults with families and high school kids and seniors and disabilities; commuter routes and connectivity to the regional transit system; Tri-Met petition documents; local shuttle service routes and schedules; and provisions to accommodate youth and small children.

The idea behind creating a task force is to maximize public input, to strengthen citizen participation, and to provide a strong public forum, in addition to the Planning Commission and City Council.

The City Council and Canby Budget Committee approved and funded a project entitled Canby Transit Plan during the 2000-01 budget process.

The purpose of the project is: to petition Tri-Met to withdraw from their transit district; to create a public transit plan that is equal or better than the current Tri-Met bus service; to devise a local shuttle service system; and to develop a Canby public transportation plan.

The task force idea was initiated to ensure public participation as city boards and staff investigate whether or not to petition to opt out of Tri-Met bus service, in order to offer a city-run shuttle system in the future.

Twenty-six people from various backgrounds have been appointed to the task force by the City Council since Sept. 6.

According to the Oregon Department of Education's report "Dropout Rates in Oregon High Schools - 1998-1999," a high school diploma used to be an important credential, though not a necessary one, for individuals who longed to succeed in the world.

Times have changed, however, and now a diploma is considered "a minimum credential" and "a necessary part of becoming an effective participant in the world today."

Unfortunately, Oregon's school dropout rate is fourth-highest in the nation, according to the ODE.

In response, State Schools Superintendent Stan Bunn unveiled a plan last week to help address the issue of dropouts in Oregon. The proposal is designed to reduce the number of dropouts by 2,000 students, or 20 percent, by the end of the 2002-2003 school year.

"We have clear evidence that Oregon schools are good and getting better," he stated in a recent press release. "But we have equal evidence that many of our students are not enjoying that success."

A student who drops out is twice as likely to be unemployed as one who graduates, according to the ODE. Dropouts now make up 80 percent of Oregon's adult prison population and are four times more likely to be covered by the Oregon Health Plan, the ODE stated.

The 1998-1999 national dropout rate for students ages 16-24 was 11.2 percent. In Oregon, almost 10,000 students, or 6.59 percent, in grades 9-12 dropped out during the same school year. Seven hundred of those left with two or fewer credits needed to graduate.

According to the ODE's report, students who have dropped out cite several different reasons for doing so: lack of credits, working a job at least 15 hours a week, dysfunctional home life, lack of parental support, substance abuse, and pregnancy or parenthood.

Hispanics - who have a dropout rate double the state average - also cited a difficulty in speaking and understanding English as a reason for leaving school.

"We know why most students are leaving," he said. "Schools need resources to fund a concentrated effort that will allow them to focus on each and every at-risk student.

Bunn's $2.7 million initiative, which could be included in Gov. John Kitzhaber's upcoming Dec. 1 budget, would earmark $1.1 million for schools with high dropout rates, $1.1 million to focus on early intervention, and $400,000 to provide professional development across the state to teachers, counselors and administrators.

U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Oregon, will host a summit on the dropout problem from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Portland State University. He will share ideas with educators, parents, community leaders and legislators about how the federal government can assist efforts to decrease Oregon's dropout rate.

Here in Canby, the dropout rate is slightly lower than the state average. Sixty-nine students - or 4.5 percent - dropped out of Canby High School during the 1998-99 school year. Thirteen of those students - more than 18 percent - were Hispanic.

Canby's percentage falls midway between other area high schools. Oregon City saw a 2.57 percent dropout rate at the freshman campus and a 7 percent rate at the high school, Molalla's dropout rate was 3.45 percent, West Linn's was 3.62 percent, and Woodburn's was 12.25 percent, with a high concentration of Hispanic dropouts.

"I think the one-size-fits-all model (of education) can be a disservice to those students who have trouble adjusting to the system," said Deborah Sommer, superintendent of the Canby School District. "Seven a.m. to 4 p.m. is not always the most optimum way to learn."

Districtwide, there are programs available to help students who are at risk of dropping out.

"We have a whole continuum of services for students who may need help," said Robyn Criego, director of student services for the Canby School District.

Alternative programs for credit recovery are available at the high school for students who may only need one credit, as well as for those who might need more time - students who hold jobs, for instance. Programs also aim to help hone students' study skills.

For Hispanic students, staff has been added, and schools have worked with parents through community outreach programs. There is also an evening program for English Language Learner students and for those up to age 21 who wish to earn their GED.

Throughout schools in the district, the F.A.M.E. reading program is in place to ensure students are learning to read properly. The objective of the program - which stands for different levels of reading: Foundations, Adventures, Mastery and Exploration - is to have the smallest number of readers possible working with an instructor, Sommer said.

"If you cannot read, you're denied access to a large part of the system," she said.

Currently, the district is compiling a list of the myriad alternatives available to at-risk students. These include programs associated with Canby Community School, Canby Camp Fire and Centro de Canby.

The district is examining programs at other community organizations as well. The resulting information will be streamlined and compiled into a pamphlet available to teachers and parents, Criego said.

"If you enrich kids rather than remediate them, they're going to do so much better," she said.