(700 WLW)- Monday night the Lakota Board of Education voted unanimously to reinstate transportation services for freshman students, effective for the 2020-21 school year for students living outside of neighborhoods with walking paths or sidewalks that lead to schools.
“This topic has been a major point of discussion in our community for several years,” said Board President Julie Shaffer. “Since high school busing was eliminated in 2011, the board has had to weigh the financial implications of fully reinstating transportation with the requests of our community. Through the district’s diligent fiscal responsibility over the years, we are now in a better position to offer busing to our freshman students beginning in the fall.”
The decision comes after several weeks of deliberation by the board. In addition to the updated five-year forecast that was presented at the meeting, the board’s analysis has included everything from enrollment projections to forecasted costs from Lakota’s contracted transportation provider to a recent community survey initiated by the board. Those results reinforced an overwhelming message the board has heard for several years from parents.
“The subject of high school busing has been brought up time and time again through Community Conversations, coffee chats, board meetings and other stakeholder interactions,” Shaffer said. “The majority of the decisions the school board makes stem from these types of discussions and what we believe is in the best interest of our students while balancing our financial objectives.”