CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Board of Education has until Sept. 1 to submit a plan to the state legislature dealing with school transportation costs.
Senate Bill 241, approved earlier this year by lawmakers, requires the board to “propose a plan to fund school transportation costs as an item separate from the present total state basic foundation program, and providing for better consideration of fixed costs of transportation in counties with low-density population.”
Funding to county school systems for transportation is currently based on the number of students transported, those in more rural counties with fewer students, many times face more costs.
The state board’s Resource Committee has been working on the plan and will have some recommendations for the full board to consider at its August meeting. Board member Tom Campbell said it’s a matter of equity.
“The unique needs of our large geographic counties is another equity issue and equity needs to be looked at,” Campbell said.
Campbell said the committee is also talking about ways to more efficiently operate the school transportation system. Campbell said one option could be using other forms of transportation for students that need to travel to a school event.
“We discussed the use of vans in regards to transporting students to extra-curricular activities,” Campbell said. “We’re probably going to come back with a proposal that we’ll present to the legislature, as well, that while still providing safety may allow for a little more flexibility in getting our students to extra-curricular events.”
The Resource Committee also continues to keep an eye on county school systems have have been struggling financially. There are eight counties currently on the board’s watch list. Campbell said each is making progress.
“Going into this next year our numbers will not go up,” Campbell said. “Most counties, just about all of them, are making progress in moving further away from deficits.”
The state Board of Education’s next meeting is set for Aug. 12 in Charleston.