Racine schools propose 300 city bus passes for students at lower per‑pass cost for 2025–26

RACINE, Wis. — Racine Unified staff presented a 2025–26 Racine Transit contract proposal Monday that would purchase 300 monthly passes for students who live near city bus stops and use city transit instead of yellow school buses.

District staff said the contract covers 300 passes to serve students at several schools, primarily shifting students who live within a half‑mile of an existing city bus stop to the city system rather than operating a district yellow bus route. The proposal totals $115,000 for the year and was presented as a continuation of the district’s long‑standing partnership with Racine Transit.

Nut graf: Staff said the contract reduces per‑student cost compared with recent years — from about $62 per pass in prior years to roughly $38 per pass under the new agreement — and limits city‑bus use to qualified students, with most middle‑schoolers returned to yellow buses this year, staff said.

Board members sought clarity on why city passes are needed and how eligibility is determined; staff said passes are assigned to students who live within a half‑mile of a bus stop and noted the change reduces the number of passes needed because the district moved middle school students back to yellow buses. Staff also said city passes will function like regular monthly bus passes, allowing students to ride to school, return home and use the pass for extracurricular trips.

No vote was taken Monday; staff said the formal contract will be available at the district’s business meeting for approval.

Ending: The board will consider the final contract at the next business meeting after staff provide the formal contract language.