Overturned Bus by Kim Sallaway (Check out his photos especially the raccoons)

It’s an “attack on rural education,” steams Dennis O’Sullivan, Southern Humboldt Unified School District’s board president.  He thinks his district (SHUSD) will likely have to stop providing buses by mid February. Parents of the 500 or so students that are currently bused will have to get their kids to school themselves. Because of a shortfall in revenue, Governor Brown completely stopped funding to most schools for transportation costs.

O’Sullivan says that the $248 million in cuts made to school transportation are unfair because they are not applied equally to urban and rural schools.  And he’s not the only one going to be upset. As parents across the state realize the situation, tempers will likely flare.

According to the Sacramento Bee,

The Millbrae Elementary School District in San Mateo County, for example, will lose $1 per student in state transportation funding, while Desert Center Unified in Riverside County has the biggest cut per student – $2,216, according to data from Strategic Education Services, a lobbying group.

This month California became the first state in the nation to cut all school transportation costs. Governor Brown made the unprecedented mid-school year cuts in an attempt to cover the shortfall between expected revenue and actual revenue brought in by taxes. He also cut an additional $79.6 million from what is known as Average Daily Attendance (ADA) money. This is money that schools receive for students attending classes.

While money cut from ADA is cut equally across the board, money cut from transportation is not.  Rural school districts like Southern Humboldt bus up to 90% of their students and, in a normal year, receive funding for those services.  Urban school districts have more options to get kids to school (walking, public transportation etc.) and thus receive less funding. So money cut from transportation can have a devastating effect on rural schools.

While school attendance is compulsory, O’Sullivan explains, “Transportation is not a mandated cost.” The state can require parents get their children to school and the state does not have to provide a bus to help them do it.

Essentially, O’Sullivan says, because of the funding cuts, Southern Humboldt will have to lay off its 14 transportation workers.  The union requires 45 days notice so, after the board meets next Tuesday, January 3rd, O’Sullivan believes the decision likely will be made to lay off the workers and terminate all bus service as of President’s Weekend for SHUSD students.  Around 500 students are bused.  Some for up to two hours each direction. Parents will need to provide transportation from mid February to the end of the year. Unless the legislature does something, there’s not much SHUSD can do. “Over 51% of our kids are on free and reduced lunches,” O’Sullivan worries.  “It’s not like you can charge for them to ride the bus.”

This is an obstacle, O’Sullivan fears, that may cause some children to move, drop out or miss large amounts of school. “Let’s not put another hurdle in their way,” he urges. He has other concerns, too.  If large numbers of students miss classes or move, then ADA money will drop even further affecting other aspects of education in Southern Humboldt and other rural schools. “If parents stop bringing their kids to school, it will kill us,” he states flatly.

Other concerns mentioned are congestion on rural roads and near schools and teenage drivers being forced to drive more often in dangerous winter weather including mountain snows.

One solution, O’Sullivan says, is to cut money equally by cutting ADA money instead of transportation money. According to the Sacramento Bee,

The Small School Districts Association will ask lawmakers to restore transportation funding when the Legislature reconvenes in January, said David Walrath, a lobbyist for the association. The group is recommending the state cut education funding by $42 per student instead of eliminating bus funds, he said.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4132035/rural-school-districts-hard-hit.html#storylink=cpy

ad more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4132035/rural-school-districts-hard-hit.html#storylink=cpy

dsfdssdfTheMillbrae Elementary School District in San Mateo County, for example, will lose $1 per student in state transportation funding, while Desert Center Unified in Riverside County has the biggest cut per student – $2,216, according to data from Strategic Education Services, a lobbying group.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4132035/rural-school-districts-hard-hit.html#storylink=cpysdf

O’Sullivan provided numbers that show that Southern Humboldt students will receive $658 less per student now. A sampling of other schools in Humboldt are

• Arcata Elementary $85 less per student

• Big Lagoon Union Elementary $357 less per student

• Bridgeville $841 less per student

• Cuddeback Union Elementary $165  less per student

• Cutten Elementary $51 less per student

• Eureka City Unified $50 less per student

• Ferndale Unified $50 less per student

• Fortuna Union Elementary $43 less per student

• Fortuna Union High $95 less per student

• Freshwater Elementary $122 less per student

• Hydesville Elementary $61 less per student

• Jacoby Creek $53 less per student

• Kneeland Elementary $490 less per student

• Loleta Union $37 less per student

• McKinleyville Union Elementary $73 less per student

• Rio Dell Elementary $18 less per student

• Southern Humboldt $658 less per student

O’Sullivan suggests calling our assemblyman, Wesley Chesbro, 463-5770 or 916-319-2001 or our state senator Noreen Evans at 916-651-4002 to ask them to support The Small District Association’s proposal.