LIHU‘E — The walking or driving distance from a public school to a student’s home was increased from one mile to 1.5 miles for those qualifying to ride school buses, according to the state Department of Education. The change, only
LIHU‘E — The walking or driving distance from a public school to a student’s home was increased from one mile to 1.5 miles for those qualifying to ride school buses, according to the state Department of Education.
The change, only for those in grades six through 12, became effective with the start of this school year’s second semester, on or around Jan. 4, according to doe.k12.hi.us.
What leaders at the affected schools (Waimea Canyon, Waimea High, Kaua‘i High, Kapa‘a High, Kapa‘a Middle, Hanalei, Kilauea and Chiefess Kamakahelei) have been doing is encouraging parents to file for exemptions to the 1.5-mile rule, said Bill Arakaki, state DOE Kaua‘i superintendent.
Parents must state a safety or health reason for requesting the exemption.
Before the start of the second semester, students living more than a mile from their campuses qualified for busing.
The distance increase took effect across the state due to budget challenges and escalating student transportation costs.
