What Happened?
Columbia, Mo., Public Schools are considering cutting yellow school bus service in favor of public busing for its middle and high schoolers.
So What?
According to the Columbia schools, eliminating school bus-related spending will free-up approximately $5.7 million dollars per year (the district’s annual budget). This money may be redirected to other yet-to-be-specified programs.
Because of school buses’ limited schedules, many students who rely on them miss out on extracurricular activities. Public busing means that these opportunities are open to a wider variety of students, including those whose families do not have cars.
Some districts that have switched to busing students with public transit have also found that, because of the more flexible bus schedules, public busing leads to increased school attendance, in addition to helping students maintain jobs and develop independence.
Traditional school buses may be an unnecessary burden financially. The city of Normal, Ill., sought to privatize their school bus service after taking into account the millions spent every year on drivers and monitors. Shifting employment-related costs, whether by employing private contractors or collaborating with public transit, may be a big money-saver.
However, this study by a doctoral student on school district attempts at privatization in Minnesota discusses how in-house operations are actually less expensive by taking into consideration more factors involved with school bus operations.
How to Implement
While Columbia is in the beginning stages of consolidation, other cities have already implemented partnerships between schools and public transit that reduce or eliminate the need for dedicated school buses.
This fall, Minneapolis Public Schools launched a public transportation busing program for high school students. The program, in which students receive free seven-day-a-week bus passes, is the result of a successful three-year pilot period. In addition to serving students who already live within school bus eligibility zones, Minneapolis’s program also covers lower income students: those who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Reception has been positive, though some students and parents have voiced safety concerns. Few issues have been reported so far. A full description of the program can be found on Minneapolis Public Schools’ website.
Champaign-Urbana, Ill., has also successfully engineered a public transportation program for its students. Columbia school officials have observed Champaign-Urbana’s program, among others, as a model.
Other Options
As mentioned above, school districts around the country are pursuing privatization as an option for reducing spending on busing. The following towns are considering privatization (listed with anticipated savings):
- Concord, MA - $373,000
- Galesburg, MI - $100,000
- Cranston, RI - $8M over 10 years
- Litchfield, ME - $223,000
Districts looking to streamline school transportation systems may be interested in efficiency-boosting applications from companies providing software to determine the best routes, using GPS to track mileage and placement of bus stops.