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- Legislation introduced by Democratic Sen. David Yates aims to address issues in Kentucky’s school transportation systems.
- The proposed bill would permit district-owned and district-leased vehicles to transport students to and from school and approved activities.
- Safety standards and training requirements would be established for drivers, including background checks and reviews of driving records.
Legislation allowing school districts to expand fleets transporting students to school and home was promoted Monday as a way to fix bus systems hampered by long routes and too few bus drivers.
Democratic Sen. David Yates, the bill’s lead sponsor in the Republican-led Senate, said improving student transportation is a nonpartisan issue. The bill has been sent to a Senate committee and its supporters tried giving it a boost, saying it would benefit urban and rural districts in the Bluegrass State.
“We know the transportation system in Kentucky right now is strained,” Yates said at a news conference. “This is a way to help alleviate that strain and make it a little bit safer for our children, more cost efficient and faster.”
KENTUCKY CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING LAW STRUCK DOWN BY JUDGE, DEALING BLOW TO SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES
The bill would allow district-owned and district-leased vehicles to transport students to and from school as well as for approved school activities under an alternative transportation plan approved by the state education department. Those vehicles could include vans and other smaller vehicles. The goal is to reduce the time students spend on a school bus each day.
Legislation allowing school districts to expand fleets transporting students to school and home was promoted Monday as a way to fix bus systems hampered by long routes and too few bus drivers. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Safety standards would be developed for such vehicles and the drivers would have to meet training requirements. Drivers would undergo criminal background checks and reviews of their…
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