Dear Parents,

In response to the Kansas Legislature’s cuts to state aid for public schools, the Lawrence Board of Education must reduce expenditures in planning for its 2009-10 budget. The school board has approved $2.5 million in budget cuts, including the elimination of district-supported discretionary busing at an annual net cost of $444,000.

Formerly called the PayRide Transportation Program, and supplemented by student fees, district-supported discretionary busing was previously provided to students who lived within 2.5 miles of their school attendance center. As a result of these budget cuts, Lawrence Public Schools and its student transportation provider, First Student, will no longer offer the PayRide Transportation Program.

The state of Kansas provides student transportation funding for students living more than 2.5 miles by the usually traveled road from the residence of the pupil. State-reimbursed transportation will now be the only busing provided by First Student for students of the Lawrence Public Schools. Eligible families may enroll for the 2009-10 student transportation program through First Student, 1548 E. 23rd Street, Suite C, during business hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Enrollment forms may be faxed to (785) 841-4388. Contact First Student with questions about student transportation, (785) 841-3594.

We understand that budget cuts to the student transportation program may pose hardships for Lawrence families. One option that may be of assistance to families is the Lawrence Transit System (“The T”). Route maps, fare information and a trip planner may be found online at www.lawrencetransit.org or by calling MV Transportation, the city’s transportation provider, at (785) 312-7054. To inquire about bus passes or request a route map, contact the Lawrence Transit System administrative offices at (785) 832-3465.

Other transportation alternatives families may wish to consider include carpooling or “walking buses.” A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school or as structured as a route with a regular schedule of parent volunteers. Visit www.walkingschoolbus.org for more information. Your school’s parent organization may be a helpful resource for families wanting to share ideas about transportation options.

Sincerely,

Rick Gammill, Special Operations, Safety and Transportation Director
Lawrence Public Schools USD 497