Framingham: School Bus Fee Will Be Lower In The Fall

The Framingham School Committee voted Monday night to reduce the bus fee for families in the 2016-17 school year.

Currently, families pay $270 for a bus.

Starting in the fall, families will pay $250 per student for a bus, with a family cap of $500.

In Framingham, students in grades K-6 ride the bus for free, if they live 2 miles from their school.

If they live closer than 2 miles, parents may purchase a bus pass per child for the school year, if a space is available on that bus route.

Buses are not free for students in grades 7-12. Parents can purchase a bus pass for those middle and high school students.

Parents must purchase a pass.

Students on free or reduced lunch can apply for full or partial waivers.

Editor’s Note: In full transparency, I have a daughter who rides the bus and our family pays the fee.

There was some confusion by the School Committee tonight, on what they voted on at their earlier meeting in February about the previous vote on fees. It is the School Committee policy to have two votes before something is approved.

Some School Committee members tonight thought they had agreed to a $70 reduction in the bus fee, but School Committee member Don Taggart said the vote was to reduce the fee by $20.

After a reading of the minutes, the School Committee realized Taggart was correct.

Earlier this month, the School Committee took three votes to reduce bus fees:

Vote to reduce the fee by $70 to $200 - motion failed.

Vote to keep the bus fee as it at $270 - motion failed.

Motion to reduce the bus fee by $20 to $250 - motion passed.

Of the more than 5,000 riders on the buses in Framingham, there are 1,500 paid riders, said Framingham Schools Chief Operating Officer Ed Gotgart.

Gotgart told the Framingham School Committee the district collects about $300,000 in bus fees.

The bus contract for the Framingham Public Schools is more than $4 million per year.

A new 5-year bus contract is to be awarded later this month.

Gotgart explained to School Committee members for each $10 reduced from the current $270 bus fee, the district would lose $12,000 in revenue.

In a majority of the 50 states, public school students get on a bus to go to school, and take the bus home without paying a fee. But according to the Pew Charitable Trust, five states, including Massachusetts, charge families to get their child(ren) to public schools.

To see what some of the other public school district charge for bus fees, click here.