A Vision for Boston:
Questions for the 2009 Mayoral Candidates

Day 12: Student Transportation

How would you change the school assignment and student transportation options for the city with the objective of satisfying parental demands and achieving savings?

Response from Mayor Menino:

We’ve met with thousands of parents to discuss assignment and transportation issues. Parents are clear: they want choice, and they want quality. Applying these principles, we have improved our system. Parents now get their first choice for schools over 50% of the time and one of their top three choices over 80% of the time. Additionally, BPS trimmed over 30 bus routes this year.

It’s important to consider that roughly 50% of school transportation costs are allocated for transportation of special needs students. To improve school assignment, save money, and invest more in the classroom, we will:

Improve Bus Routing

BPS has worked with individuals from MIT to identify the best strategies to route school buses in the most efficient way possible.

Preserve School Choice

We understand that children don’t all thrive in the same academic environment. That is why we have a range of options, such as two-way bilingual schools and schools focused on careers in health or public service.

Increase School Quality

We have created 24 pilot schools and 25 new K-8 programs and are expanding our advanced placement classes district-wide. With passage of our in-district charter legislation, we will be able to accelerate the transformation of our under-performing schools.