A motion to endorse fee-based busing services in Andover Unified School District 385 for students inside a 2.5 mile radius of their school was passed on a 4-2 vote of the Board of Education Tuesday night.The motion was made by Board Member Jeff Ablah after the School Board listened to public comments and considered options of a district advisory committee.
The committee suggested either a reduction in five district bus routes or a fee-based system. USD 385 receives state reimbursement for transportation expenses beyond the 2.5 mile radius.
However it does not receive state money for trips less than that.
Board Member Nancy Kirkendoll provided the second for Board voting purposes. She and Ablah voted “Yea” along with Board Vice President Dale Graham and Clare Wilkins. Voting “Nay” on the motion with a desire of securing more data were Board Members Carly Haynes and Dr. Linda Hope.
Haynes and Hope feared that many patrons have not had a chance to comment on the busing options. Haynes wanted to wait for teacher negotiations to finish.
Those negotiations reached impasse last Friday and a federal mediator is being called in for fact-finding work.
In an effort to ease a budget shortfall, a fee of $100 per year for one student or $150 for a family was discussed.
School Superintendent Mark Evans reported where fee-based busing is in place in Kansas the costs range $180 to $240 a year.
The new busing information will be part of information packet for the new school year.
Near the outset of Tuesday’s special meeting, the Board heard from patrons Melody King, Jerri Dennett, Kelly Oxner, Mitzie Hall, Tom Klocek, and Chuck Lyon.
They expressed concerns about the safety of children walking to school sites, sometimes in dark or inclement weather, and the expense of crossing guards.
In other business, the Augusta Daily Gazette was designated as the school district’s official newspaper after a presentation by Gazette Publisher Kent Bush.
