The sensible thing seems to bring the busses back. Traffic around town would be much improved and parents would avoid making multiple trips sitting in traffic. This is a no-brainer for mass transit.
I have no idea how to go about proposing this. Anyone have experience with this or know of examples where parents successfully brought busses back?
Experience in general with civic participation, not with school bus issues. Paths to explore:
1. Contact school board members, ask what the status of the issue is. There may be pending activity or analysis of the issue that they can give you, getting you up to speed quickly. It may be that the district itself ran the buses, in which case the school district is a logical party to revive them. In this case, the school board, an elected body of citizens, would likely make the decision. You can persuade them, get many other parents to persuade them, or run for their seat and win and personally propose the improvement that you seek.
2. It may turn out that a large move like this would require additional funds to be raised by means of a school bond, which if passed would increase tax rates to pay for the bonds. Generally in this case, the school board would propose the bonds (perhaps after some public input process), and voters would vote "yes" or "no" on the bonds during the next election. Your role would be to get the school board to study and propose the bonds. Along the way, you advocate to other citizens about passing the bonds. Get out the vote!
3. Were buses in your area run by a separate entity, such as a public transit agency? If so, contact them about such procedures.
4. Contact your Parent Teacher Association and find out if anyone there is familiar with the issue.
5. Use Google Fu, often quite informative, especially if local media or activists produced articles or blog posts on the subject.
Have fun!
Such things are great opportunities to meet numerous caring neighbors. Lots of unpaid work, though, be aware it's a potential time suck if there are other activities that you like doing instead. That said, much of democracy consists of individuals digging into an issue like this, and leading a lot of other ordinary citizens into a communal victory. If you have time freedom because of your thrifty ways, the ability to contribute in this way is one of the privileges you have earned.