Elimination of Home to School Transportation Services
MAY 2019 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE:
"At its meeting on May 22, 2019, the FUSD Board of Education made the decision to eliminate Home-to-School bus transportation for general education students beginning with the 2019-20 school year. The item was one of several reductions made to balance the District's budget for the upcoming school year. This was a difficult decision that the Board did not take lightly, but given the financial challenges faced by public school districts throughout California, FUSD could not continue a program that has been running at a deficit for several years.
We understand this decision will cause inconvenience for many of our students and families. We regret these circumstances and will do everything possible to find and create alternatives prior to the start of the new school year."
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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year (August 2019), school bus transportation services will NOT be available for general education students. Bus passes are no longer available for purchase.
Parents/guardians will need to make alternative transportation arrangements for their students, such as utilizing public transportation, arranging carpools, etc.
Public Transit Resources:
Alameda County Transportation Commission Student Transit Pass Program
WILL OTHER SERVICES BE AFFECTED?
- TRANSPORTATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS: Transportation services for eligible special education students will continue uninterrupted. The Transportation Department will provide increased service on yellow school buses and will significantly reduce the number of routes handled by outside contractors. Eligibility for transportation is determined in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). If you are unsure if your special education student is eligible for transportation, please contact the Special Education Department.
- FIELD TRIPS: School bus transportation will continue to be provided for field trips.
WOULD IT HAVE HELPED TO INCREASE BUS PASS PRICES?
Though bus pass fees were slated to increase for the 2019-2020 school year, FUSD Board Policy and California state law limit the amount families may be charged for home to school transportation. Even if fees had been increased to the maximum amount allowed, it would not have been enough to offset the actual cost of transporting 800+ general education students and 700+ special education students each school year.
Eliminating bus routes for general education students allows the Transportation Department to significantly reduce the number of routes handled by outside contractors, which is estimated to save the District over $3 million each year.
WILL HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FOR GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS RESUME IN THE FUTURE?
At this time, there are no plans to resume home-to-school transportation for general education students. If/when home to school transportation is authorized to resume by the FUSD Board of Education, parents/guardians will be notified by the District.
CAN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT CHANGE THE DECISION?
Transportation Department management and staff do not have the authority to overrule or modify a decision made by the FUSD Board of Education. Parents/Guardians with concerns regarding the change in school bus transportation availability are encouraged to attend Board of Education meetings. Meeting dates are available on the Board of Education page.