February 9, 2026 at 7:30 AM - Policy Committee Meeting

Description:  Summers will discuss changes to transportation starting in the fall of 2026. Attached please find a report from Lamers indicating the impact of implementing the middle school unusually hazardous transportation changes for 2026-27 and changing the eligibility for 5th through 12th graders to 1.0 mile to match the 4K through 4th grade eligibility. 

Attached please find the unusually hazardous transportation plan that was approved by the school board in summer 2024. Implementation of that plan would eliminate bus transportation for 251 students or 3 bus routes. 

A change in eligibility from 1.75 miles away from school to 1.0 mile away  from school for 5th through 12th grade would result in the addition of 242 more riders or 3 bus routes. 

A possible option for 2026-27 would include:
1) Implement unusually hazardous transportation plan as previously approved by the  school board (saves 3 bus routes for 5th through 12th grade).
2) Eliminate shuttles between the 3 elementary schools — replace the shuttles with 3 new shorter and 3 new longer routes that provide alternative transportation options for elementary students. The 3 shorter routes do not have a fiscal impact because they will continue on as 5th through 12th grade routes as they currently do. The 3 longer routes would have a fiscal impact because they would not connect to 5th through 12th grade routes. However, there would be 3 fewer 5th through 12th grade routes required if the unusually hazardous transportation plan remains as approved.
3) St. John's students would be served by a northern and southern bus route.
The entire financial impact of this scenario would have to be modeled out if the school board was interested in learning more.

Review the transportation request from an open enrollment family.