Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents and board raise transportation concerns after Vinewood science‑camp charter costs vary widely
Summary
A Vinewood parent reported the district—s CHP/time restrictions limit district bus availability for long trips, forcing charter options with widely different quotes — one company quoted $10,000 for a 90‑student Sky Mountain trip while First Student quoted $4,740 — prompting board members to seek equitable solutions for all schools.
A Vinewood parent and instructional coach told the board the school struggled to secure district buses for a planned Sky Mountain science camp because district buses are limited to local routes by CHP and driver‑time rules. The parent said three charter companies were available when they checked, and only one offered luggage storage; one vendor quoted about $10,000 for transporting 90 students round‑trip, which equates to roughly $100 per student.
"For a trip to Livermore and back with 90 students would be $10,000," the parent said, adding that First Student provided a competing quote of $4,740 that included luggage storage. She asked the board to explore solutions so the cost does not fall unevenly on families and so that all schools can access field trips equitably.
Board members called the situation "a double problem" — the district must both enable a particular school (Vinewood) to go and ensure equitable access across schools that lack strong parent fundraising. One board member asked staff to identify options "to move from no to yes" so field trips are available to all students.
Transportation staff and area directors said they would continue follow‑up with the parent club and look for ways to expand available buses, staffing and vendor pools; staff noted increasing requirements for parent volunteer drivers and constraints under CHP rules.
The board did not take immediate formal action but directed staff to continue exploring options and to report back with potential solutions that preserve equity.
