A special legislative commission studying Rhode Island’s school bus system wants to hear what members of the public think about how the state’s K-12 students get to school.
The 13-member panel co-chaired by Sen. Linda Ujifusa, a Portsmouth Democrat, alongside fellow Portsmouth Democrat Rep. Terri Cortvriend, was formed last June by the General Assembly to ponder what changes need to be made to laws governing the statewide transportation program. Ahead of its meeting scheduled next Monday, Feb. 10, the commission is seeking written comments but will also welcome in-person testimony at the meeting.
State law requires local school districts to pay the costs of transporting students who attend private, religious, or career and technical schools outside their hometown.
At its most recent meeting on Jan. 13, commissioners pondered solutions to Rhode Island’s school transportation challenges, from addressing a school bus driver shortage to considering the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s recent success with student transport in Providence.
The next meeting will include a presentation from Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Chief Operations Officer Dr. Mario Carreño on how transportation to private schools is currently funded.
Under state law, school districts are required to use a statewide transportation service administered by RIDE, unless they apply for an exemption. Districts can get reimbursed, sometimes at less than the promised 100% rebate rate, for private school students, it buses within its own district.
Monday’s agenda also includes presentations by the Independent Schools Association of Rhode Island, the Diocese of Providence, and public school superintendents from both sides of Narragansett Bay.
Written testimony must be emailed to Commission Secretary Christine O’Connor at COconnor@rilegislature.gov. The public can also give oral testimony during the commission’s meeting, which is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Monday in the House Lounge.
This article was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
