March 3, 2026 at 7:30 AM - Policy Committee Meeting

Description:  Summers will discuss changes to transportation starting in the fall of 2026.

Attached please find the following:
1) Slides from the Board Workshop
2) 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.unusually hazardous transportation plan that was approved by the school board in summer 2024
3) Current transportation policy
4) Board approved Unusually Hazardous Transportation boundaries
5) Open enrollment transportation parent request
6) Student transportation maps from Lamers
7) Comparable district transportation expenditure data

Implementation of the unusually hazardous transportation 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.

Administration will request discussion with the policy committee on the topic stated above. The results of this discussion then impact the next agenda item.