District 88 to delay busing limits

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Following concerns from local businesses regarding employees needing time off to pick children up from school, the District 88 School Board, on Friday voted unanimously to delay the implementation of the two-mile busing limits until Oct. 2.

An emergency meeting was held Friday morning, with all board members present, with the exception of Susan Ullery, who voted by proxy that she would support it if the other board members did.

Complaints from some of the larger companies in town centered on the fact that it is difficult for line workers, who work in shifts, to leave every day to pick up their children from school.

The board is dedicated to their initial budget cut of $100,000 for the transportation issue, but feels the public needs the time to determine if funds can be generated through donations.

"Our goal at this point is to receive $100,000 between now and Sept. 15 to keep the busing in place for the entire 2000-2001 school year," Superintendent Harold Remme said. "If the $100,000 is not received, the two-mile busing restriction as previously stated will be implemented beginning Oct. 2."

When school begins on Sept. 5, busing will be conducted as in the past, with all students being eligible, he said.

"We are not repealing our initial decision, we are merely delaying implementation," he said.

The goal is to see if enough parents, businesses, or organizations are willing to fund transportation services for students, he said.

"The district will pay for the busing for September," Remme said. "If we receive the full amount, then we will reimburse ourselves out of that amount. Otherwise, we will eat the funds."

There is no dollar amount attached to the donation, and anyone may make a donation, he said.

"This developed because a pay-as-you-go system, which had been discussed previously, was difficult to get organized," he said. "There will still be some issues that will have to be addressed by the transportation committee, such as health concerns of students, or day care situations."

The school board and district officials will continue to develop a response to any potential questions that parents might have if the two-mile system is implemented, Remme said.

By state law, districts are not required to bus students if they live within a two-mile radius of the campus where they attend.

The school district cannot receive money from the City, the County, or any other government entity as part of this process, per state law.

Remme has contacted officials with New Ulm Area Catholic Schools and St. Paul's Lutheran School, who are affected by public busing decisions, and they are both in support of the fund-raising effort.

If the district receives more than the $100,000 requested amount, the additional money will be returned to the donor rather than turned over to other programs, Remme said.

Donations may be made through District 88, NUACS, or St. Paul's, but it is preferred that all donations are addressed to District 88, he said.

"All donations will be held until Sept. 15, when they will either be deposited or returned to the donors," he said.

The money will only be returned to the donor should the $100,000 goal not be reached. It is recommended that all donations be in the form of checks so they can be returned if needed, he said.