Calif. district restores some busing for fall

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — Nearly 2,200 students who live in geographically remote areas will be provided temporary bus service, the local school board decided on Monday.

The Lake Elsinore Unified School District board unanimously approved the limited home-to-school bus service for the first semester, from Aug. 13 to Dec. 21. A capacity crowd of more than 100 parents, city officials, transportation workers and local stakeholders attended Monday evening’s special meeting to consider transportation options.

In February, the district decided to cut home-to-school transportation —with the exception of special-education busing —due to state budget cuts. However, district officials now say that about $350,000 in one-time unrestricted general fund revenue is available to restore limited busing for the first semester.

The funding comes from not filling a vacancy in the assistant superintendent of student support services position and from restructuring a copier and printer lease agreement.

“Listening to community concerns, we believe transporting students who live in remote areas is the priority need,” board President Susan Scott said.

Officials said that geographically remote areas are defined as those with “extraordinary topography, traffic conditions and/or long distances that preclude walking or bicycling to school.”

Lake Elsinore Unified School District covers more than 144 square miles, serving nearly 22,000 students from the cities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake and Wildomar and several unincorporated Riverside County communities.

Bus passes for the semester cost $175.

Other recent news related to budget cuts:

• Hawaii restores some bus routes

• School bus services restored at Calif. district

• Tenn. district cuts bus service for 8 days