The Holmen School District Board of Education approved a temporary transportation contract to ensure a student in foster care can continue attending their school of origin when district transportation is unavailable. The contract was approved on the consent agenda.

Jill Mason, executive director of student services, told the board the district has an obligation under ESSA to provide transportation for students in foster care. She described typical "best interest" meetings that include other school districts and county social services to determine options that serve the student's educational and transportation needs. "So in this case, because our transportation is pretty tight right now, we are not able to transport this student to their school of origin," Mason said. "We look at other options. So we might look at cabs, other types of transportation, or a contract with an individual who has passed required background checks."

Mason said the proposed cost-sharing breakdown is La Crosse County paying 50% and two other school districts each paying 25% of the costs. She also emphasized the arrangement is conditional: if the district can free up a driver or otherwise provide service later, the contract would be revisited and could be discontinued.

Board members asked whether the board would need to reapprove the arrangement if circumstances changed and what backup plans exist if a contracted driver is temporarily unavailable. Mason replied that changes to the contract would not necessarily require reopening board approval and that county social workers and district staff sometimes provide ad hoc transportation when needed to avoid disrupting the student.