Transportation changes for 2010-11 school year
To contact transportation about the changes, call 425-385-4144 or email transportation@everettsd.org.
Beginning in 2010-11, there will be some changes in how the district transports students to and from school. Everett Public Schools, like families and businesses, is working on ways to conserve resources and reduce costs.
How is school transportation funded and why is the district changing how it transports students?
More than 20 years ago, the state developed a school bus funding formula that today pays the district only 60 percent of what it really costs to get students to and from school safely each day. According to this formula, the state pays only for students who catch a school bus more than a mile, as the crow flies, from school, plus a small amount for students who live within that one-mile radius, but have no walkway meeting standards set by Washington State Department of Transportation's School Walk and Bike Routes: A Guide for Planning and Improving Walk and Bike to School Options for Students.
Until 2010-11, the district has been busing many students who catch a bus less than one mile, as the crow flies, from school and who do have walkways meeting WSDOT safety guidelines. That extra service, which does not match the state funding formula, meant the district was spending local tax dollars on transportation which could have been used in classrooms.
The district's Fiscal Advisory Council (FAC) worked from December through March to research ways to cut costs while preserving as much classroom funding as possible. After a thorough and thoughtful review of alternatives, the FAC concluded that the district can no longer afford to provide transportation services that exceed the level of funding received from the state.
The FAC recommended that the district revise school bus service to match the state funding formula. This recommendation was included in the Reduced Educational Program the school board approved on April 20 and is included in the budget for school year 2010-11.
How do families know about their bus transportation changes for school year 2010-11?
Each family within the one-mile radius of each school received a personalized map with a suggested walking route to and from school.
The district is implementing new transportation software. Maps are available on the Web and parents will soon be able to look up bus stop information online based on their residential address.
Impacted families have been alerted to watch for mailed information and Web updates via email, Connect-ED and through the district email subscription system InTouch. You can establish an InTouch account easily to receive school information on topics of your choice,
including transportation.
With advanced information and planning, we can work together to reduce how school bus changes will impact families while maintaining classroom services to students. Please contact the transportation department at 425-385-4141 if you have questions or suggestions for how we might work together. You might also consider meeting with neighbors and friends to explore the possibilities of a Walking School Bus program.
Where can I learn more about guidelines for student walkways?
Washington State Department of Transportation's School Walk and Bike Routes: A Guide for Planning and Improving Walk and Bike to School Options for Students
How can I ask to have my child's walking route reconsidered?
You may request reconsideration of your child's assigned walking route by following the 2010-11 Walking Route Reconsideration Process, completing the form which is part of the process and submitting it according to the instructions on the form and process explanation.
