Solutions: funding school bus transportation?
By keeping their communities informed, high-performing school boards earn the trust and support necessary to make fast and hard decisions. Here in Tehachapi, no one should have been surprised to learn the state had cut $600,000 from TUSD’s transportation budget.
But people were surprised.
Everyone is tired of politicians bickering over taxes. Voters want to see their elected officials start solving problems. How might our school board start solving problems?
Keeping citizens informed would be a start. For instance, last spring the governor proposed the state pay every school district’s transportation and special education costs. The governor’s reasoning was simple: in small and rural school districts, a disproportionate percentage of per pupil funding goes to pay these costs. Our school board could have taken a pro-active leadership role by contacting state representatives and asking other school boards, citizens and staff members to offer their support as well. Instead, our school board voted to support tax increases.
Setting goals is another place to start. Making up for the loss of $600,000 in state funding would be a timely goal. Reaching that goal would require our school board to make a plan and a commitment to the effort. Communicating with citizens and local government and state officials would also be required.
Without a tax increase or state help, raising $600,000 will require more than one solution. People willing to help fund the arts, science and technology are unlikely to fund transportation as well. However, one innovative school district worked with their city and local businesses to place “parking meters” in parking lots and streets.
While feeding coins into these creatively designed meters is voluntary, they are a magnet for extra change. A dozen more ideas like this are needed.
Cities are so densely built, that a school bus traveling one mile can easily pick up 50 kids. In rural Tehachapi, a school bus can travel 15 miles before picking up one student.
Parents facing increased transportation fees might consider centralized bus stops in each outlying community a viable alternative.
A long-term plan to end transportation subsidies merits consideration.
Under such a plan, transportation fees could remain stable until a family moved or sold their home. Over five years, new homeowners (or renters) would see a yearly rise in transportation fees until they were paying the full cost.
Reducing other big expenses could help offset transportation costs.
Take a deep breath folks, because textbooks are one of those really big expenses. Did you know that changing a math textbook for third graders costs roughly $500,000? Did you know that every 2-3 years, the state requires school districts to change textbooks in every subject and grade?
Luckily, electronic book manufacturers (e.g. Kindle) are developing products for schools. However, realizing the cost savings would require our school board to begin preparing students, teachers and families to make a transition from books to electronic books now! Our students’ future depends upon an innovative and pro-active school board that is ready, willing and able to solve problems.
HOLLY HART lives in Tehachapi and is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Tehachapi Unified School District.
