Falcon School District Charging For Bus Rides

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Falcon School District 49 plans to charge most students $1 each time they board a school bus next school year, but not enough students are signing up for rides.

The school board voted earlier this year to switch to a fee-for-service bus operation this fall in light of state funding cuts. Students except for those eligible for free or reduced meals will be charged $1 per ride.

District Transportation Director Cindy Hardin says that as of Thursday, about 1,450 students had signed up to pay for bus service, but about 3,000 riders are needed to break even. Officials are working to sign up more students before the first day of school Aug. 2.

The Gazette reports that in previous years, the district had about 4,800 bus riders daily.

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