Arcadia Schools Eliminate Student-Paid Bus Service

By a 3-0 vote Monday night, the Arcadia School Board discontinued a transportation-for-fee program, ending school bus service for high school students and certain elementary and junior high school students.

The board’s decision came less than two weeks after the State Board of Education was notified that local school districts are prohibited from charging for home-to-school bus service, said Supt. Stephen Goldstone.

That notification, by a Ventura County court, followed an appellate court ruling in June that public schools charging bus fees violate the state Constitution, he said.

Beginning in late January, bus service will no longer be available for high school students in Arcadia. Free bus service will be offered to kindergarten and elementary school students who live more than 1.25 miles from school and junior high students who live more than 2.5 miles from school.

Bus transportation for special education students and school activities will continue, said Goldstone.

About 700, or 10.8%, of the district’s 7,600 students ride the bus, each paying $59 a school quarter. Most students walk to school or ride in car pools, said Goldstone.

Under the new program, about 50% of the students who now ride buses must find other means of transportation, he said.

Without revenues from bus fees, the district will pay $90,000, representing a $60,000 increase, to operate a free bus program, Goldstone said. “We feel we ought to provide a certain level of service.”