Letter to the Editor: School Bus Count Week Begins Sept. 21

The week beginning September 21^st is an important one for our school district.  Washington State bases its transportation reimbursement rate for school districts entirely on the number of students who ride the bus during five mornings in September.  That’s right—the annual reimbursement for a school district (which never fully covers the cost of transportation) is set after one week, and cannot be changed until the following year.

School districts are not required to provide bus transportation (except to a very narrow segment of the school population).  However, Orcas Island School District now provides four extensive (but expensive) routes, covering much of the length and breadth of this island.  Having access to these routes is a boon to students and parents, promotes sustainable transportation choices, and is an important part of the school and local community.

Please help ensure that the school district has the maximum funds possible to enable it to continue to provide this important service.  If your child(ren) use the buses, make an extra effort to ride on the mornings of September 21^st-25^th.   Thank you.

Orcas Schools’ PTSA