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Board approves short-term busing amendment to keep out-of-town magnet seats filled
Summary
The Waterbury Board of Education approved an amendment to student transportation services to continue busing students from neighboring districts to the city's magnet schools after sending districts announced they would stop busing.
The Waterbury Board of Education voted to approve an amendment to its student transportation services on June 18 that will maintain bus service for students from sending towns who attend the district's three magnet schools.
The change follows decisions by several sending districts, including Thomaston and Terryville, to stop providing transportation to Waterbury magnet schools. Commissioner Van Stone said the board's action was necessary to avoid losing seats in the magnet programs and to protect programming funded by state reimbursements.
District staff explained the arrangement will use the same per-bus rate previously paid by sending towns and that the district expects state reimbursement. A staff presentation said the district will seek state aid filed on form ED-021 and expects reimbursement at about $1,300 per student; the staff estimate shown at the meeting projected roughly $149,500 in state reimbursement in the near term and noted broader reimbursement projections (for all magnet students) could total about $774,000 based on current enrollment.
Why it matters: The board framed the amendment as preserving seats for Waterbury students at magnet schools and protecting related program funding; board members said losing magnet students could reduce state aid and programming capacity.
Discussion highlights: Commissioner Van Stone said Thomaston provided the required one-year notice while Terryville is in breach of contract; she called retaining the out-of-town students "the right thing to do." A staff member (identified in the meeting as Nick) told commissioners that the private operator All Star currently provides transportation for those sending districts and offered to continue service at the same per-bus rate ($405 per bus per day, two buses in the example provided).
Board action: After discussion, a motion to approve the amendment was seconded and carried; the clerk recorded "Abstain" during the vote but did not announce a roll-call tally on the record.
Ending: Board members said parents had already been contacted and told the district was working on a solution; staff said they would notify partner districts to encourage continued enrollment at the magnet schools.
