Speaker asks Duluth board to simplify bus-address-change process for families
Summary
A community member asked the board to direct the district to allow bus changes when requested by parents, caregivers or district employees rather than requiring burdensome paperwork or homelessness declarations.
At the listening session, Andrea Gelb asked the board to change district procedures that she said make bus‑address changes burdensome for families.
"Students who need to change their address during the school year are facing barriers having their bus schedules changed," Gelb said. She told the board some families are asked to complete onerous paperwork or to declare homelessness to secure transportation changes and asked the board to direct the district to allow bus changes when requested by the parent, caregiver or a district employee advocating on the family's behalf.
Gelb praised staff already working on the issue and noted the district has a new director of advancing equity; she asked the board to empower that office to implement changes. The board did not take formal action at the listening session.
