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Board renews 28E city-bus partnership amid concerns about supervision and volume of student rides
Summary
The Burlington Community School District board approved renewing a 28E agreement with the City of Burlington to continue paying for student city-bus passes; Superintendent Rob Scott lauded the partnership, while one board member raised concerns about the volume of rides (reported as roughly 40,000–45,000 annually) and supervision of younger students — the board approved the renewal with one abstention.
The Burlington Community School District board voted on June 29 to approve renewing a 28E agreement with the City of Burlington that continues district-funded access to city-bus passes for students who do not qualify for regular school bus service.
"What a great partnership we have with the city," Superintendent Rob Scott said during the discussion, describing the arrangement as a cost-effective option that has helped student attendance. Scott noted the district has used the arrangement for years and characterized it as "a great investment for our kids and opportunities for them."
Board members pressed staff for details about usage and supervision. During the discussion board members cited district estimates of roughly 40,000–45,000 rides per year (staff also referenced figures near 4,000 rides per month), and asked whether parents and students understand that city rules apply when students ride municipal buses. One board member raised a supervision concern, saying delegating large volumes of student trips to city buses may leave a supervision gap for younger riders; that member later abstained from the vote to approve the agreement, citing a desire for more information. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally; the motion passed by voice vote.
Staff clarified how rides are counted, noting transfers and morning/evening trips influence monthly totals. The board asked staff to monitor usage over the coming year and said any policy adjustments would be considered during budget discussions so that the city would have advance notice of changes before the new school year.
What happens next: The agreement will continue into the coming school year; staff said they would monitor ridership and report back to the board, including any recommended policy or service changes to address supervision or capacity concerns.
