Busing to be fee based for those who live less than 2.5 miles from their school
Application Form and Frequently Asked Questions Added!
June 24, 2009
As you may already know, the state is facing a budget crisis. That crisis has moved to the public school level and has required drastic cuts in districts across the state. Andover Public Schools is also facing these cuts, with a $1.2 million deficit looming because of the state’s financial crisis. The district appointed a Budget Advisory Committee comprised of parents, teachers, administrators and staff. They reviewed more than 130 budget items and created a list of potential cuts, including potential cuts to the district’s transportation system. These potential cuts that the committee recommended to the Board of Education will assist the district in making reductions of $1.2 million to its budget.
To help fund this budget deficit, the Andover Public Schools Board of Education approved at its June 23 meeting a plan to implement a transportation fee for those students who live less than 2.5 miles from their school and choose to ride the bus. The cost for this service is $100 per student per year, with a $150 maximum cost for all students in one family who live at the same address.
Eligibility is based on the student’s home address, not from the location the student boards the bus. Students must be registered with the district’s transportation department and fees must be paid before transportation can begin. Registrations cannot be made by students or baby sitters. The fee is the same whether the students rides the bus one or both ways. Students who live less than 2.5 miles from their school and are eligible for free or reduced lunches may use this transportation service for free.
The district will continue to provide free bus transportation for all students who live 2.5 miles or more from their school. The state reimburses the district for the transportation of these students.
If you have questions about this program, please contact the Transportation Department at (316) 218-4621 or cloptonj@usd385.org.
Click here to download the transportation application. Click here to see Frequently Asked Questions.
