Board raises equity and liability alarms over charter school's plan to decline regular transportation

Transportation became a central equity question during the board's review. Committee members and board members pressed the applicants on their decision not to provide regular bus service and on how families without reliable private transport would access the school.

The review committee described the applicant's plan as relying on carpooling and potential bus purchases supported by grants; the committee also flagged liability concerns when parents transport other children. "There is somewhat of a plan laid out, basically involving carpooling," one reviewer said, adding the committee worried about consistency and liability for families who transport other families' children. Board members argued that in a geographically large county, declining transportation threatens access for low-income families and could prompt civil-rights complaints if it results in systemic exclusion.

CCPS finance staff explained that charter schools receive transportation funding and that special-education transportation can be arranged as a buyback service: CCPS can organize the transportation and the charter would pay for those provisions. Applicant representatives said they had discussed potential buyback services and bus purchases and were still developing specific plans; they emphasized willingness to purchase buses or contract services if necessary.

The board left the session with an outstanding request for a clearer, binding plan for transportation, including costs and agreements for special-education buyback services.