CONEJO VALLEY : School Bus Rides May Cost $373 a Year

Conejo Valley parents would pay an estimated $373 a year per child for home-to-school bus transportation if the school district began charging for the service, according to a study discussed Tuesday by the school board.

The study by Conejo Valley Unified School District officials outlines several ways to change the funding of bus service. The district spends $670,683 a year to transport more than 1,700 students to school. Of those, 226 are special education students who are required to be transported under state law.

Under the present structure, parents would need to pay $373 a year per child for bus service if the district cut its funding completely. If the district paid half of the expenses, parental costs would be $187 annually per child.

Another proposal suggests shortening student walking distances, which would make more students eligible to ride the bus and thus require additional buses.

Figuring in the cost of nine additional buses, district officials estimate that parents would have to pay $543 annually per child, or $272 if the district contributed half of the needed funds.

District staff has recommended that the school board wait to make any policy changes until May or June, when the state Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of charging for home-to-school bus transportation.

Board member Richard Newman cautioned his colleagues to consider all aspects. “It’s not as simple an issue as presented at times,” he said. “We have kids who would have to cross roads under very dangerous circumstances. I hope that the dollar is not the only consideration.”

The school board is scheduled to decide the issue at its Jan. 9 meeting.