The Impact of Eliminating Bus Transportation
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Due to budget cuts, the Duval County school district is considering eliminating bus transportation for magnet schools, starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
In an attempt to decrease spending, the Duval County School Board and superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier have considered many options including the cessation of transportation for magnet schools.
"Eliminating transportation to magnet schools would save money — possibly $12 million a year,” Bernier said. State law requires school districts to provide transportation for students who live more than 2 miles from their zoned schools, but Bernier said there's "no legal requirement" to bus students to magnet schools," journalist Megan Mallicoat said in an article for jaxtoday.
This proposal is in response to budget constraints faced by the school district. According to a school district spokesperson, $100 million needs to be cut from the operating budget for the district to remain solvent under state law.
"In recent years, we have been covering that gap with reserves, but we no longer have the reserves necessary to continue this practice," Bernier said on duvalschools.org.
While a change like this might be necessary, parents and students are equally worried about its effects on students and schools. It could cause serious disruptions in daily routine for many families and the schools could experience a shift in their students' demographics.
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"Magnet schools are one of the district's strengths, numerous parents told the superintendent, and eliminating transportation to them would risk putting the magnets out of reach for many students, they worried," according to Mallicoat in an article for jaxtoday.
Because magnet schools tend to offer a more diverse and well-rounded curriculum, they tend to attract students from across the district. Many of these students rely on the bus to get to school, and without transportation, they may find it difficult to attend these magnet schools, possibly limiting their educational opportunities.
"Had there not been magnet transportation, I don't know if attendance would have been a priority," a mother of three Duval students told Bernier, according to jaxtoday.
Not only is it a concern for the students, but it would also have negative effects on the schools. Specifically, advanced schools like Paxon would be impacted because some students rely on bus transportation to be able to attend the school. This is especially true for those who don’t drive or have parents that can provide transportation in the absence of busses. If they no longer have access to transportation, then who's to say that our school will maintain its advanced stature if these students can no longer attend? Other advanced schools in the area would face the same problem.
"It's all about money. From what they were saying, they were talking about spreadsheets and costs,” Barbara Clemmons, an active community member said on jaxtoday. “Not once did I hear them say anything about the safety of the children, the convenience for the parents to get the children to school."
Ultimately, there is no question about whether or not the district needs to cut funding because the answer is clearly ‘yes’. However, we do have to question if eliminating bus transportation is the best solution, considering the potential negative consequences for the community. Maybe there are other areas where cuts could be made that would not have such drastic effects on students and families.