Schools
LEUSD Board Keeps Current Bus Service
Board members decide punch pass cards, in use by some districts, could require more buses while making student transport difficult to plan and control.
Don’t expect punch passes for school bus rides this year.
On Sept. 8, the district board told staff to maintain the current system of providing annual and semi-annual passes for home-to-school bus service.
The district board also held off on endorsing one-way passes.
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The board expressed concerns about added transport costs in the current economy. Members agreed that creating more bus options would make planning more complex and could increase the cost of student transportation.
Gene Durham, director of transportation and services, told the board that schedules containing zero periods and after school activities prevent many students from participating in the transportation program. He said the introduction of the one-way pass and punch-pass would provide students and parents additional transportation options.
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An annual pass costs $300 and semi-annual pass is $175.
Both Temecula Valley and Murrieta Valley unified school districts offer punch passes. Temecula offers 10 rides for $38. Murrieta provides 40 rides for $100 and eighty rides for $180.
Durham cautioned that one-way passes and punch passes make it more difficult to predict how many kids will be on the buses. “You have to consider the possibility of overload,” Durham said.
He pointed out that two high school age children can fit in a bus seat, compared to four for elementary children and two to three for middle school youngsters. On average, buses hold 66 to 70 children.
“You may not have seats available during the afternoon recess,” Durham said.
Besides the possible need for more buses, board President Sue Scott warned of a possible planning nightmare. “We don’t know what day that kid will show up,” she said. “It takes away our control of the sites. We offer quite a few options. I wouldn’t be interested in looking at punches.”
“I agree with Sue,” said board member Tom Thomas. “You don’t know what day they will take the bus or walk,” he said.
Under the current system families with more than one student can receive a discount on annual passes. The cost is $290 for a second student and $250 for a third student.
The district charges $1,000 total for a family with four students.
