KELLER, Texas — Keller Independent School District in January will reinstate free school bus transportation for regular-education students who live more than two miles away from their home campus.

The district’s board of trustees approved changes to reinstate the service at its meeting on Monday, voting six to zero for a “blended model” of student transportation.  

In the new model, students living outside of the two-mile range of their campus will no longer be charged to ride the bus to and from school, beginning with the start of the spring semester on Jan. 23.

Students within the two-mile range will continue to have the option to purchase bus service for $75 per semester; that’s down from $175 per semester.

State budget cuts prior to the 2011-12 school year prompted the district to begin charging students for bus service.

Keller Independent School District administration developed the blended model after compiling lower-than-expected ridership numbers and not receiving a state reimbursement for special-education students and curriculum and technology education students, officials said.

The blended model is expected to provide more state revenue and to be complemented by additional income from greater ridership within the two-mile radius.

Families that have already paid for a second semester of bus transportation will be eligible for a refund beginning Dec. 19, 2012. 

Other news related to bus fees:

• Ridership increases after bus fee reduction

• Calif. district increases bus fees