LTUSD reinstates fees for school buses after two-year hiatus

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) will be re-instating Transportation Fees in the 2022-23 school year. The temporary removal of the fees was meant to be temporary as the District and families navigated through the pandemic after in-person school resumed.

The reinstatement will also have a price increase of 15 percent added to account for increased costs in the daily operation and maintenance of the buses.

Students can have a daily, round-trip pass for $175 a year, with a reduced discount of $80 for those who are income-eligible. There will be a number of initiatives for free and/or reduced transportation to include the completion of an alternate income form by August 29, 2022, for those households whose income is under $60,000 as well as a 10 percent discount for fees received by September 16, 2022.

These will be free passes available for those families who qualify. See the photo above with an eligibility scale.

Families with two or more students riding LTUSD transportation will pay a fixed fee.

All students, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible to participate in home-to-school transportation services. These fees are in accordance with the regulations of the state of California.

LTUSD Board President Bonnie Turnbell was concerned the increase in fees would put more cars on the road and move students away from buses which she said is a safe mode of transportation to school.

Some students receiving special education may be eligible for free
transportation. This related service is discussed with the IEP team during the development of the IEP. Contact the Special Education Department at 541-2850 or the Transportation Department at 543-2218 if you =have any questions. All students must have a bus pass to ride the bus.

Questions regarding bus fees, applications, bus schedules, and times can be directed to individual schools or the Transportation office at 530-543-2218. Forms will be available as back-to-school packets are sent to parents.