- Published on August 26, 2024
Article Summary
Massachusetts diverted bus services for 150 Stoughton students to accommodate migrant transportation needs, leaving local families without school transportation and raising concerns about resource allocation.
•Bus Service Cut: 150 Stoughton students lost their school bus service due to state resource reallocation.
•Migrant Transportation: Funds were diverted to provide buses for migrant children in shelters and hotels.
•Superintendent’s Explanation: Superintendent Joseph Baeta clarified that the migrant busing is funded by the state, not the local district budget.
•Increased Costs: The migrant crisis is adding strain to the school budget, with additional funding required for migrant education.
•Taxpayer Impact: The cost of managing the migrant crisis in Massachusetts is projected to reach $1.8 billion over the next two years.
About 150 students in the Stoughton Public School system were left without bus service as Massachusetts redirected funding to provide transportation for migrant children. School officials informed parents that bus service would not be available for these students for the foreseeable future, citing a shortage of drivers and the reallocation of resources. While Superintendent Joseph Baeta acknowledged the disappointment and frustration this caused, he emphasized that the buses for migrant students are funded by the state, not the district budget. However, Baeta has previously noted the strain the migrant crisis places on the school budget, particularly with increased enrollment and the need for special education and English Learner services.
Massachusetts, which does not mandate school districts to provide transportation, requires busing for migrant students living in shelters and hotels. The state has already increased its budget for migrant education, with an estimated $12 million added for 2024. The ongoing costs of managing the Biden-Harris migrant crisis are expected to reach $1.8 billion over the next two years, significantly impacting Massachusetts taxpayers.
Categories
