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District to stop subsidizing private-school busing for nonresident majority; bus parking search continues
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Summary
District staff told the board Eagle Hill did not meet the state's 50% in-state student requirement and the district plans to give one-month notice to stop taxpayer-funded busing; staff also outlined an ongoing search for a permanent bus depot and short-term bus-parking strategies.
District transportation staff told the board the district will not continue public funding for a private school's transportation where the private school does not meet the state's threshold for Connecticut residency among its student body.
Transportation officials said Eagle Hill did not meet the statutory requirement that a private school be majority-Connecticut resident to qualify for district-provided transportation; the district reviewed the school's September enrollment and said the school missed the 50% threshold. The superintendent said she met with Eagle Hill leadership and gave professional notice that the district would not continue to provide buses at public expense; staff said the school could contract privately with DATCO or other vendors if it wished to continue paid transportation.
Separately, transportation staff updated the board on a months-long search for permanent bus storage and staging. The district reported it had examined dozens of private and municipal properties and continues to explore options that balance driver parking, route geometry and municipal constraints; staff noted several properties (including municipal parking areas and private lots) had operational conflicts such as weekend use or high lease costs that limited feasibility. Staff described interim steps to reduce concentration at one site by adding smaller groups of buses at other municipal lots where possible and said they are negotiating logistics with DATCO and town departments (public works and Parks & Rec) to minimize disruption.
Board members asked about the fiscal impact (staff said the district lacks discretionary resources to continue a $300,000 annual transportation cost not required by law), about whether parents would be affected, and about contingency planning for midyear enrollment changes. Transportation staff said they would provide timelines to affected families and work with private schools to move to a paid contract model if the school sought continued service.
On the depot search, board members noted church and municipal lots had come up in earlier discussions; staff explained practical constraints—Sunday usage at churches, heavy commercial activity at public works sites, and lease costs at some privately owned parcels—have limited options. Staff said they will return with a short list of viable properties and cost estimates.
