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Committee hears bill to remove midday busing requirement for half‑day kindergarten
Summary
A House bill that would change a statewide busing mandate for districts offering half‑day kindergarten drew questions about unintended impacts on families who rely on school transportation.
Representative Keith Amond introduced House Bill 319 to the Senate Education Committee, saying the bill would remove a statewide mandate that requires districts with half‑day kindergarten to run midday bus trips.
Amond, who said he represents New Boston, Lineborough and Mount Vernon, told the committee that his district spends about $75,000 a year complying with the midday busing rule and that caregivers traditionally picked up students at midday. "It put unnecessary burden on the school district," Amond said.
Committee members pressed on the bill’s effect in districts where families lack alternative transportation. Senator Prentiss said she could "see a number of districts" where working parents would rely on school transport to move children between school and childcare, and asked whether the bill would let local school boards adopt a policy instead of maintaining a statewide mandate.
Amond said the bill would leave the decision to local school boards: "It would leave it up to the local school board. They're closer to the needs of the parents and the community." He and committee members discussed drafting language to change occurrences of "shall" to "may" so the requirement would be permissive for half‑day districts.
No formal vote was taken; the hearing on House Bill 319 concluded after public comment was called and none signed up.
The committee asked Amond to be available for follow‑up drafting to clarify whether the provision should explicitly permit local school districts to adopt a policy rather than create a statewide mandate.
