Board approves routes and declares transportation impractical for some private and charter students

The Brexville Board of Education on Aug. 20 approved the district’s 2025–26 bus routes and passed a resolution declaring transportation impractical for certain private and charter school students who live within the state’s timing parameters. As a result, the district will pay eligible families an in‑lieu amount that the presenter said is approximately $600 per student for the year.

Why it matters: the district must follow state rules that require transportation or an in‑lieu payment for nonpublic students that meet timing and distance criteria. Board members described how route timing, driver availability and state timing tests can determine whether the district must provide service or may pay parents instead.

During the presentation staff explained the in‑lieu calculation and said districts must time routes during the actual route period; timing tests by state reviewers can reverse a finding if the timed route later shows a shorter travel time. The board heard an example in which a route initially recorded as 32 minutes later timed at 29 minutes when lights and traffic differed on the test day; those results can change whether the district is required to transport.

Board members asked whether the 30‑minute timing allowance for private and charter students applies to public‑school routes; presenters clarified it applies only to the nonpublic transports that trigger the in‑lieu calculation. Several board members said staffing shortages and special‑purpose routes have required districts elsewhere to reduce some public high‑school busing, a statewide trend discussed in recent news reporting.

The board approved both items by roll call (all voting yes).