Plenty of Open Seats for Students to Ride the Bus

Peabody School Transportation Director Eileen Bresnahan says there are still plenty of seats open for students needing a ride to school this next year. That’s because many parents haven’t paid for bus passes yet, even though the deadline was nearly a month ago.

Bresnahan said that as of Aug. 5, there were only 1,656 students signed up to ride, which was “way short from last year.” School officials are projecting similar enrollment levels as last year at this point.

For the 2010-2011 school year, Bresnahan issued 2,574 passes. The deadline to pay in full for a bus pass this fall was July 15.

Bresnahan added that every year she has parents straggling in even on the first day of school to pay for their child’s bus pass, so she’s confident the current number will grow significantly by the time school starts on Aug. 29.

She does plan to send out additional reminders over the next three weeks.

Bresnahan said that this year she’s not hearing as many complaints over the cost of the passes; it’s more about parents remembering to pay on time.

The School Committee did hike the rates to $300 per student on bus fees in 2009 in an effort to help balance the school budget amidst a budget crunch.

School officials believe that’s the main reason why nearly 400 students who were eligible to ride the bus last year did not. Ridership was at 2,939 in 2009 and only 2,574 last year.

The drop in ridership also , which school officials are still trying to absorb.

Bresnahan said one problem the School Department did address this year was giving parents plenty of notice of when full payment was due. Those who paid by the deadline also received $25 off each pass they purchased.

Parents can still find transportation forms on the district website under the Transportation page and/or stop by Bresnahan’s office at the during normal business hours.