District 834 transportation changes to increase efficiency, potentially reduce costs

With a little help from parents, the Stillwater Area Public School District is looking to save money and increase busing efficiencies through a new transportation registration system.

“We’re asking parents to let us know if they need transportation service for their students,” said Dennis Bloom, Director of Operations for the school district. “By filling out a simple form, parents can help us plan more effectively and eliminate unnecessary bus stops - potentially saving the district money.”

The transportation registration and decline transportation system allows for the district to better track which eligible students will need busing, and allows for routes to be planned more effectively and efficiently. To be eligible for transportation service, students must reside in the Stillwater Area Public School boundary and live more than one mile from the school if entering grades K-6, and more than two miles from the school for grades 7-12.

Under the new system, all Stillwater Area High School students (grades 10-12), as well as all non-public and charter school students in grades K-12, must register in order to receive bus service. If a transportation registration form is not received, students will not be assigned a bus schedule.

In addition, parents of students attending Stillwater Area Public Schools in grades K-9 can submit a “Decline Transportation” form to the district if they know their children will not need bus service for the 2009-2010 school year.

Should changes in service need to be made during the year, parents can work with district staff to either add or remove a child from a bus route.

Copies of the transportation forms, as well as more information about the registration system, can be found on the district’s website: http://www.stillwater.k12.mn.us/Transportation_Enrollment_and_Decline_Forms.html. Transportation forms will also be sent home to parents from their child’s school prior to the end of the school year.

Tags: school board news, district 834, high schools, education, busing, bloom, stillwater