Changes Proposed For Salem Public Schools Bus Transportation

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools is looking for feedback on student transportation changes proposed for the 2022-23 school year.

The proposed changes are in the hands of the School Committee, which will consider and vote on them during its May 2 meeting. But the district is looking for family input in advance of those decisions.

"We urge you to ask any questions, get clarification, and share your thoughts about these proposed changes with the School Committee members," the district said.

Contact information for School Committee members can be found here.

Under the new proposal, children in grades kindergarten through third grade who live more than one mile from their school, children in grades 3 through 5 who live more than 1.5 miles from their school and students in grades 6 through 12 who live more than two miles from their school will be entitled to mandatory transportation — as well as those requiring transportation because of a disability through their Individualized Education Plan.

Under the proposal, once mandatory seats have been filled, any remaining seats can be filled based on economic needs, unsafe zones and those riding with younger siblings.

Families looking for an exemption will be considered if a student in grades 3 through 5 is living between one mile and 1.5 miles from school, and a student in grades 6 through 12 is living between 1.5 miles and 2 miles of their school.

Families can then also petition the superintendent's office for additional exemptions that will be considered on a need and availability basis.

Superintendent Steve Zrike said next week's Facebook Live session will be dedicated to answering questions on the proposed transportation changes.

The full proposal can be found here and the current policy can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)