Radnor board credits Batt family donation and REF set‑aside for new late‑bus runs

The Radnor Township School Board on Sept. 30 approved its consent agenda and heard updates on a new late‑bus pilot funded in part by a Batt family donation and a $100,000 set‑aside from the Radnor Educational Foundation intended for staff grant applications.

Student representative Katie Bowman, a junior at Radnor High School, told the board students have begun using a new late‑bus service at the high school, which she said runs two departure times "04:30 and 05:30" Monday through Thursday and "will allow students to participate in after school activities without uncertainty of a ride home." Superintendent Dr. Batchelor thanked the Batt family and said the donation "has provided the funds for those late buses." He also described the district's role in administering a Radnor Educational Foundation allocation: "the board will be approving that $100,000 tonight, but then our staff and members of our community can be applying for grants that will help support our students."

Dr. Batchelor said the later run is seeing higher ridership and that the district may adjust stops and times as it gathers feedback. He said middle‑school late‑bus service is expected to begin Oct. 6, when middle‑school clubs start. "Give us feedback. What's working with the late lift? What's not working with it? Because we're willing to make adjustments," he said.

The board approved its consent agenda (items 9.1–13.3) by a 9–0 vote; the superintendent had identified the donations and the REF set‑aside earlier in his remarks. Board members thanked staff for work on supplemental reviews and extracurricular programs that they said contribute to student engagement.

What happens next: district staff will continue to monitor ridership and adjust routes and times as needed; the middle‑school late bus is scheduled to begin Oct. 6, and the REF funds will be administered through a grant application process open to staff and community partners.