LEUSD To Consider Cutting School Bus Service

Yellow school buses could become a thing of the past.

Governor Jerry Brown has proposed to cut state funding for both special education and home-to-school transportation across California. As a result, on Thursday the Lake Elsinore Unified School District board will consider whether to accept a district staff recommendation to eliminate a transportation program for its students.

The public is invited to weigh in on the issue during an open public meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at district headquarters located at 545 Chaney Street in Lake Elsinore.

Home-to-school transportation is not considered an educational program; it is considered an optional program, according to the district. It costs $5,891,552 to operate the home-to-school and Special Education transportation programs in the LEUSD, according to the district. State funding for the programs amounts to just over $2 million, according to the district.

Currently, LEUSD families subsidize the cost of school bus service. An annual pass costs $300 and semi-annual pass is $175 per student. 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.

During Thursday’s meeting, district officials are expected to tell the board that the loss of state revenue is significant and the home-to-school program should be cut until more funding becomes available.

Last week, SB 81 was passed by the state legislature and sent to Gov. Brown for his signature. SB 81 restores this year’s school bus funding. The governor is expected to sign the bill.