http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/nov/06/city-schools-consider-bus-collaboration/
Older kids could use public transit.
City and Columbia Public Schools officials said there is potential for better collaboration that might allow Columbia Transit buses to handle some transportation needs for middle and high school students.
The idea spurred discussion yesterday at a joint meeting of the Columbia and Boone County governments and Columbia Public Schools. Members of the Columbia City Council, Boone County Commission and Columbia Board of Education took part, as did Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes and schools Superintendent Chris Belcher.
Belcher said using public transportation to move students likely would not be popular with parents of elementary school students, but he said it might be useful for older students, especially those who take part in after-school activities.
"I don't think most parents would put a young kid on a bus," Belcher said in an interview.
He said using Columbia Transit buses to carry students could allow the school district to redirect funding it uses to maintain bus routes and pay drivers to other programs.
The district spends about $5.7 million annually on bus service, but Belcher said the district is in a good financial position to maintain its current service.
"Our budget's in very good shape," Belcher said.
He said he has already seen students using city buses to get to school and that the buses might be useful for serving students at the more urban schools that see dense traffic congestion at pickup and drop-off times.
In March, representatives from Columbia schools and the city observed a collaborative transit model between a public school district and a public transit district in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., one of the three locations officials toured this year where transit systems are funded in part by college students' activity fees.
In Champaign-Urbana, local schools provide funding to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, and middle and high school students in the city are given stickers to put on their student IDs that allow them to board buses.
The city council held its regular meeting a few hours after the joint session. At the council meeting, Christiane Quinn, co-chair of Columbians for Modern, Efficient Transit, testified in support of Columbia Transit collaborating with the school district to provide transit services to students.
Quinn, whose son is a Hickman High School student, said acclimating Columbia Transit routes to serve public schools might give students more opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
"Before- and after-school programs can be available to all and not just those with private cars," Quinn said.
Later in the meeting, Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe requested that city staff draft a report on the issue.
"We can beef up our transportation system," Hoppe said.
"We can save money for the school system."