House OKs Bill That Would End Some Bus Service for Students

March 3, 2010

Thousands of Utah junior high and high school students could lose school bus services if a bill that gained overwhelming support in the House on Tuesday passes.

Under HB166, junior high and high school students who live less than three miles from school might no longer get bus service. Schools would still be allowed to offer buses for those students, but the state would no longer help to pay. Districts, though, would be allowed to use certain tax revenues to help preserve those routes.

The bill could mean an end to about half the Davis School District’s school bus routes. In the Granite School District, it could mean cutting 40 of the district’s 81 secondary school bus routes. Jordan District officials say it could affect about 2,500 to 3,000 Jordan secondary school students who ride the bus.

The House voted 68-3 on Tuesday in favor of the bill, which aims to save the state money by eliminating certain mandates. The bill would also put the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test (UBSCT), which Utah high school students now take before graduating, on hold for two years, meaning students now in grades eight thro ugh 11 wouldn’t have to take it before graduation. And it would eliminate Criterion Referenced Tests, the state’s main achievement test, for second-graders. "This is a way to life some of these mandates, give greater local control to the schools and allow them flexibility in these tough budget times, said bill sponsor Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland.

JoDee Sundberg, of the Utah School Boards Association, said the association, the Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah school district business administrators worked with lawmakers on the idea.

"What it would do, it would give districts more flexibility in the busing situation," said Sundberg, who is also on the Alpine School Board. "Most of the senior high school kids don’t use the buses, but we have to provide buses for kids who live two miles out. That’s an unfunded mandate for the most part."

Rob Smith, Alpine business administrator who worked with lawmakers on the bill, said it’s not that anyone wants to eliminate bus services; it’s just a way of dealing with possible cuts to state money for school buses.

"That’s not something we want. It’s not something we would ask for," Smith said. "It’s simply in response to the reduced funding."

Steve Dunham, spokesman for the Jordan District, said Jordan would not likely continue that busing without state money. Christopher Williams, of the Davis District, said continuing busing without state money "would be really challenging."

Now, local school districts and the state each pay part of the cost of school busing.

Williams said a big challenge would likely be getting junior high students to school.

"These kids who can’t drive are going to have to find a way to get to school, and it’s going to be challenging for families," Williams said.

Dunham said another challenge would be making sure students have safe sidewalks by which to get to school. He said it could also create more traffic and pollution around schools.

Jordan Superintendent Barry Newbold said the bill brings up issues of safety, parents’ responsibilities and cost savings.

"If transportation costs to the school district are reduced by limiting busing, you shift the responsibility to transport students back to parents," Newbold said. "Depending on the individual circumstances of the family, this could compromise student safety."

But Dougall said the bill could save the state about $6 million in this tight budget time, including $4.3 million just by changing the busing rule.

The bill now moves to the Senate.