In a nice development for local families, the Sebastopol School District Board of Education voted to drop the family transportation fee for the 2006-2007 school year. Board members felt that it was important to solicit additional ridership on the shuttle bus system by dropping the $100 fee. As fuel prices have increased for families, both the Board and District staff felt that moving to get more students on the buses would help many families and potentially the environment if fewer cars are on the road.

“We can’t afford to go back to the old routes that ran down many roads to pick up individual students,” stated Superintendent David Wheeler. “California’s legislature and past governors have never funded home-to-school transportation at a level that pays the actual costs. It has been their contention that getting kids to school is really a parent’s responsibility. The Sebastopol Board felt it was a good faith move on their part to drop this fee at least for this school year,” stated Wheeler.