LEWISTON – Carol Smith has taken calls from frustrated parents, surprised that students don’t have free busing to school.

“They feel they pay taxes and should not have to pay,” said Smith, who works in the principal’s office at Lewiston High School. “It costs 60 cents one way. That’s $1.20 a day. If you have three children, that adds up.”

Because the city doesn’t provide busing for high school students, parents have to pay the private company that provides busing.

But that could change this fall.

The Lewiston School Department is considering free busing to high school students who live at least a mile-and-a-quarter from school or who have to cross a busy street to get there.

The proposal also includes busing for middle school students who live near the school but have to cross busy streets.

The extra transportation would cost up to $20,000 a year but not require any new buses, Superintendent Leon Levesque said.

“We’re about the only high school that does not provide free transportation to students,” Levesque said.

He said the city should provide transportation because the number of student cars at the high school has increased. Fewer students would drive to school, and fewer parents would have to drive their teens, he said.

The change would also relieve congestion.

Lewiston High, with nearly 1,375 students, is one of the largest high schools in Maine. East Avenue is congested each morning and afternoon as students arrive and leave.

“It’s a nightmare,” said Butch Pratt, transportation director for Lewiston schools. Dozens and dozens of vehicles are trying to get in and out, he said.

Free busing also would boost school attendance, especially when it’s cold or rainy, said Principal Gus LeBlanc.

“Providing transportation sends a clear message that we value students coming to school,” he said. “We’re willing to back up that value by putting up the money.”

School leaders also are concerned about safety.

Harvey Boatman, a transportation specialist with the Maine Department of Education, said busing is the safest form of transportation. Maine loses too many teens every year to fatal car crashes, he said.

Buses would drive middle and high school students to school first, then pick up elementary students. The change would require elementary schools to begin school five minutes later, he said.

Busing high school students is a policy change that would have to be approved by the Lewiston School Committee. Committee members will hear a presentation April 9.

Until then, high school parents are being surveyed by phone to see how many students would use busing if it were available, Pratt said.

Breakout>>

Next up

April 9: Busing changes will be presented to the Lewiston School Committee

Before then: High school parents will be surveyed about the proposed changes