Deadlines

Busing Deadlines and COVID-19

The DPI does not feel it has the authority to waive the busing deadlines. We need statutory changes. However, because the future is so uncertain, it’s hard to pick another date that won’t become equally problematic. It’s also hard to get the statutory changes when we are awaiting a special session by the legislature.

As a result, WCRIS recommends the following:

April 1 deadline: Only schools with newly expanded or changed enrollment areas need to worry about the April 1 deadline. The statute requires that if no new map is filed with the school district, the old map prevails. Most schools will be fine with their existing map. For those few schools that would be affected in the event their enrollment area changes because of a neighboring school closure, the pandemic is a pretty solid reason for not having a map.

May 15 deadline: Schools should submit a list of all and any students who are eligible for transportation, as best as they know, with the following codicil:

“And any other now-unknown students who apply to our school program after the date of this correspondence.”

Again, guidance from DPI (see Q. 2) makes it clear technicalities should not be used as an excuse to deny busing. Also, the statute gives districts the power to extend the deadlines. A private school can lobby its public school board to extend the deadline, if they are having problems knowing who is enrolling next year.