Posted at 10:45 a.m., Thursday, August 2, 2001

School bus fare to rise under panel's plan

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The Board of Education's Support Services Committee yesterday approved a proposal to double the one-way school bus fare for public school students.

If the proposal is approved by the full board, the current 25-cent fare would increase to 50 cents in the 2002-03 school year.

The increase would help reduce a $3.5 million deficit projected for the transportation program that year.

"The costs (for transportation) are going up, but the appropriations from the Legislature are not. We have to reduce costs or increase revenue," said George Okano, manager of student transportation services.

Another proposal supported by the committee is a new rule concerning students' eligibility to use the public school bus system.

Currently, all students who live beyond a mile from their school are eligible. The new rule would increase this distance for O'ahu students only. High school students would have to live farther than two miles from school, and middle school students farther than one and a half miles, to be eligible to ride school buses. Elementary school students would not be affected.

Neighbor Island schools are not affected by the change because they don't lack the mass transit available on O'ahu, Okano said.

In addition, students attending charter or magnet schools outside their school district would not qualify for bus transportation.

"I think it's ridiculous. (The fare increase) will be really expensive," said Wai'anae resident Lynn Gromichuck, who has two children using the school bus system. She said one of her sons also will be affected by the new mileage rule.

"(People) did voice concerns, but we're hoping they will be OK and keep in mind that the proposal also provides for discounts for people who prepay (for passes)," Okano said.

Approximately 31,000 students statewide use the public school bus system. All would be affected by the fare increase; about 400 would be affected by the new eligibility rule.

The proposals will be brought to the full board for approval in mid-August before going into public hearings.