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Board hears plan to limit some high-school bus service and to adjust middle-school zones ahead of new school openings
Summary
Staff recommended a strategic transportation threshold for high schools that limits transportation to the subzones supplying 90% of a school’s enrollment (or top three subzones if no 90% concentration), estimating fewer than 900 students would be impacted; staff also proposed small middle-school boundary adjustments tied to opening a new junior K–8 in 2026.
District planners presented a multi-option analysis of high-school transportation and middle-school boundary adjustments at the Dec. 1 workshop, recommending a measured approach to reduce extreme route lengths while preserving program access.
For high schools, staff proposed a strategic transportation threshold: if 90% or more of a high school’s enrollment lives in two subzones, transportation would be limited to those subzones (excluding barrier islands); if no 90% concentration exists, transportation would be provided to the three subzones with the highest enrollment. Staff said the model preserves program access—students may still apply for special programs—but narrows the geographic footprint for which the district provides bus service. The presenters estimated the recommended approach would affect fewer than 900 students (about 2% of the high-school population) and would reduce the longest, least-efficient routes.
Board members discussed implications for families without other transportation options, equity across neighborhoods and programmatic access (arts, vocational, IB). Staff emphasized communications and a January open-enrollment window to give families about four months’ notice and said families could use lottery and waiver processes if they need to change schools.
For middle schools, staff proposed targeted boundary adjustments in Zones AA and CC to account for the upcoming Hector A. Caffaratta junior K–8 (opening fall 2026). The proposed change would shift roughly 775–861 students into Zone AA over 10 years and directly affect about 813 currently enrolled students; a continuation option would allow affected students to remain at their existing schools if families provide their own transportation.
No final board votes were taken at the workshop; staff said the changes are timed to inform open enrollment for 2026–27 and that further community outreach and technical materials will be provided.
