Learning community’s free transportation requirements could change

The Education Committee heard testimony Feb. 28 on a bill that would change transportation requirements for students in a learning community.

Currently, school districts in a learning community are required to provide free transportation to students residing in the community who transfer due to open enrollment provisions, qualify for free or reduced-price lunches or add to the socioeconomic diversity of the school. Additionally, those students must live more than one mile from the school of transfer. Free transportation also must be provided for students who attend a focus or magnet school and live more than one mile from the school.

LB53, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, would eliminate the requirement for free transportation for students who transfer but do not contribute to the socioeconomic diversity of a school.

According to the bill’s fiscal note, schools in the learning community will spend approximately $3.6 million in fiscal year 2011-12 on transportation costs for students who have transferred due to open enrollment.

Significant funds are spent providing free transportation for students, Krist said. LB53 could result in significant taxpayer savings while preserving socio-economic integration in schools, he added.

Andrew Rikli, superintendent of Westside Community Schools, testified in support of the bill, saying the cost of transporting students is substantial.

Westside schools receive approximately 2,000 students through open and option enrollment and transportation costs are more than $6,000 per student, Rikli said.

There was no opposition testimony and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.