LAGUNA BEACH : School Board to Vote on Fee for Busing

As it continues to grapple with a $530,817 budget shortfall caused by the county’s bankruptcy, the Laguna Beach Unified School District board will decide today whether to begin charging parents for busing elementary school students to and from campuses.

The board also will consider increasing development fees to raise money for new school facilities.

Some parents have balked in the past at the prospect of the district imposing an annual fee to transport students, but school officials say Laguna Beach is the only South County district that does not already charge for the service.

Supt. Paul M. Possemato said Monday he believes many parents are becoming accustomed to the idea.

“The overwhelming number of parents and community [members] are aware there is a crisis not of the school district’s making,” Possemato said.

According to a memo from Possemato accompanying the proposal, Newport-Mesa Unified charges $150 annually per child and Saddleback Valley Unified imposes a $365 fee. The Laguna Beach school board will consider several options, with fees ranging from $180 to $225 per year per student.

School officials say the fee would generate between $135,000 and $168,750 for the district.

The board will also consider increasing development fees for new houses and home additions.

The school district had $6.9 million in the county pool when it collapsed in December, and has so far recovered $5.2 million.

The board has already agreed to cut almost $400,000 in spending from its proposed $13.5-million budget for fiscal 1995-96 in areas such as travel, maintenance, membership dues, printing and vehicle repair.