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Low demand leads Germantown board to consider collapsing private‑school transport run
Summary
District staff reported no April‑1 applications this year for non‑public transportation; the board discussed collapsing a costly multi‑stop run that had been reduced from about $120,000 to $77,000 by consolidating pickups and questioned legal limits on discontinuing the service.
Administrators told the board they had received no parent applications by the April 1 deadline for district transportation to nearby private schools and recommended not accepting new applications unless legally required.
Staff explained the district previously operated a route that stopped at roughly a dozen homes and cost about $120,000; staff consolidated that service into one stop and reduced the cost to approximately $77,000. The district’s legal counsel (referenced in email to administrators) advised staff that the district may not be obligated to provide door‑to‑door service beyond state requirements, and administrators said they had gone "above and beyond" by directly contacting families several times.
Board members debated the policy stance: some urged collapsing the run permanently given costs and low demand while others noted state law requires transportation within 15 miles for eligible non‑public students and that changes could be raised at the state level. Administrators said the district would not accept late applications except when required by law (for families newly moving into the district) and would re‑evaluate in future budget cycles if demand returns.
No final policy change was adopted at the meeting; the board requested staff keep the board apprised and consider budget implications for next year.
