Beginning August 19, 2021, general school bus transportation services will not be available to students residing outside of the Barona Indian Reservation and Navy Housing service areas.  Impacted families will need to make alternative transportation arrangements for their students, such as utilizing before and after school supervision available through Extended Student Services, and/or arranging carpools. Transportation for students residing within the Barona Indian Reservation and Navy Housing service areas will not be impacted.

Yes, all Board meeting agendas, minutes, and presentations are available on the District’s website.  You can view the materials presented to the Board on Proposed Transportation Changes at its May 24, 2021, on the website.  The Board also received information and input from the public regarding these proposed changes at its May 13, 2021 and June 17, 2021 meetings.

LUSD offers a variety of Extended Student Services, which provide student supervision from 6am to 6pm, at every one of its school sites.  We encourage you to review the services available at your child’s school to determine whether these would be an appropriate choice for your family.  

If your family requires assistance with the cost of ESS services, San Diego County offers childcare assistance through the Centralized Child Care Eligibility List.  

Alternatively, you may consider organizing a private carpool with other LUSD families.

The recommendation for changes to the bus routes was made based on careful  analysis of LUSD school bus ridership. In recent years, LUSD has experienced  a steady decline in school bus ridership. Before the pandemic, just seven  percent (7%) of LUSD students used the transportation services impacted by  the changes effective this school year. Despite school bus pass and state  revenue, provision of these services results in a deficit of more than $800,000  per year. Budgetary constraints, rising fuel costs, the lack of school bus drivers,  declining ridership, and the availability of before and after school supervision at  every school site were primary factors in making the recommendation for these  changes.  

The Barona Indian Reservation and Navy Housing routes serve the majority of  LUSD students who use District transportation. Because of the geographical  location of these families’ homes, walking to school is not a realistic option for  these students. For these reasons, continued provision of transportation to  these routes was recommended to the Board.  

Your child’s transportation services will not be impacted. The District will  continue to transport students in accordance with the services set forth in the  operative Individualized Education Program (“IEP”). To save on fuel costs, your  child may be transported in an LUSD student transport van instead of a school  bus. All LUSD drivers receive significant and on-going training to ensure your  child’s safety when they are transported to and from school.  

Because of the reduction in school bus routes, transportation to the Boys and Girls Club will no longer be provided by the District.  We are unaware whether the Boys and Girls Club may offer transportation in the future. 

Your child may participate in Extended Student Services (“ESS”), from 6am to 6pm, at every one of LUSD’s school sites.  We encourage you to review the services available at your child’s school to determine whether these would be an appropriate choice for your family.  If your family requires assistance with the cost of ESS services, San Diego County offers childcare assistance through the Centralized Child Care Eligibility List.

Yes, school bus transportation will continue to be provided for field trips (as  health department orders permit).  

At this time, there are no plans to resume the discontinued transportation  services. If/when additional routes are added, parents/guardians will be  notified.