Board asks administration to soften absolute 'no transportation' language for out-of-area school travel
Summary
Members questioned a line in the draft attendance-boundaries policy that said the district "will not provide transportation to schools outside of a student's attendance area," asking staff to consider language that preserves exceptions (for shuttles, magnet programs, or special needs) when resources allow; administration agreed to research historical practice and propose alternate wording.
During review of BP 5.116 on school attendance boundaries, several board members, led by Mister Doran, raised concerns about an absolute sentence that states the district "will not provide transportation to schools outside of a student's attendance area." Doran noted the district has at times run shuttle buses for magnet or charter schools and for special-education needs and asked whether policy should preserve flexibility.
Administration acknowledged the question and said it will research historical practice and look for language that retains the policy's intent while allowing exceptions when appropriate. Miss Maple said clear language would help respond to public perceptions that the district is failing to provide required transportation; staff noted a separate charter-school transportation policy and out-of-area application processes exist.
Board direction: administration will return with suggested wording that could soften the absolute phrasing or explicitly allow exceptions when within district means or when required by ARs.
