Board considers big changes to bus routes, magnet and hazard transportation for District 65

Evanston CCSD 65 staff told the Curriculum & Policy Committee on June 2 that the district must balance legal requirements, safety assessments and limited budgets as it revises transportation policy ahead of facilities changes and the district reconfiguration plan (STRP 3).

Transportation staff and district counsel outlined which students the district is required to transport under state law, which categories are optional and how Cook County tax, route and contractual constraints shape choices about routes and fees. Required transportation types cited by staff include students who live more than 1.5 miles from their assigned school, students whose IEPs require transportation, and students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney‑Vento Act. Staff also said that students attending charter or magnet programs may require transportation depending on Illinois State Board of Education interpretation and that the district has historically provided magnet transportation in several cases.

"Any student that lives more than 1.5 miles away from their assigned school, we are pretty much required to transport them unless we certify with ISBE that adequate, safe public transportation is available to them," the district's presenter explained. Transportation staff also emphasized that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) approves hazard intersections; when a crossing guard is permanently posted at a location, IDOT may not deem the crossing a hazard and hazard transportation eligibility can change.

Staff outlined a range of policy choices for the board, including: maintain current K–5 and limited middle‑school routes; expand paid or free service to all 6–8 students (estimated at roughly $80,000 per route); pursue an ISBE certification that public transit is adequate for some students to eliminate bus service for them; or adopt new fee structures for students under 1.5 miles who do not cross an IDOT‑designated hazard. Transportation leaders said they can provide a route‑by‑route rider count and identify how many riders rely on hazard designations vs. distance. "We can tell you exactly how many are on the bus because of hazard," staff said.

Board members emphasized the need for community engagement and asked staff to return with: exact ridership counts per route, the number of riders whose eligibility depends on hazard crossings, an analysis of how proposed changes would affect families' commutes and work arrangements, and comparative data from peer districts. Several trustees also requested cost estimates for charging carts and for potential impacts of the state's pending budget decisions on existing Pace/CTA school‑transportation partnerships.

Staff said next steps include broader stakeholder engagement, legal review of magnet/charter transportation obligations and a community survey; they did not take an immediate vote. Staff suggested the board could delay implementation to the 2027–28 school year to give families and partner organizations time to adjust to any changes.

The committee also discussed crossing guards: the district shares crossing‑guard costs with the City of Evanston; that agreement phases the district toward bearing the full cost by Fiscal Year 2027, and staff said the district can renegotiate with the city if the board requests it.