D-20 School Board Backs Bus Fee Plan

School District 20 leaders have approved a bus fee for the 2012-13 school year that will charge most kids 50 cents per ride.

The decision was finalized Thursday night on a unanimous vote by the school board. It came three weeks after a public meeting in which some parents voiced concerns over the high cost and financial burden they thought it would create.

“The task force struggled, as did the board, with, ‘What do we do with families that have three or four or five or six kids?’ recognizing that could be a financial burden,” said Larry Borland, director of safety and transportation for the district.

In the end, the school board adopted ceilings for families that have multiple kids, capping the monthly fee at $50 and the yearly bus rate at $500.

“I feel this is fair and reasonable,” said School Board President Linda Van Matre. “I hope this eases the minds of those parents.”

The money generated by setting a ceiling for those bus fees will cut into the amount the school board believed would be generated for transportation costs. Only 25 percent of kids in the school district ride the bus, and that number is expected to slip with the institution of the fee. But, Borland said the research the school district did showed them that the rider rate will stabilize.

Traditionally, bus services have been paid for through the general fund. One year ago, a special committee was launched to determine whether or not a fee was feasible.

“It costs the school district $2.09 per ride on transportation,” said Vicky Taylor, a school board member. “When I talk with people about the budget, many tell me the fist cut should be transportation.”

Special needs bus riders will pay 60 cents per ride and out-of-district riders will pay 70 cents per trip. Anyone receiving free or reduced-price lunches will have the fee waived, according to school district leaders.

One provision of the measure passed by the school board Thursday night includes a yearly review of whether a bus fee is needed.