News in Brief: A National Roundup

Pa. Rejects Plea for Busing in Dangerous Neighborhood

November 16, 2004

Private transportation companies will temporarily provide free busing to Pittsburgh students who must walk through an especially violent neighborhood to get to school, after the state turned down a request to subsidize busing.

The 33,500-student district requested, but was denied, additional money from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to transport children who walk to and from the 420-student New Homewood Elementary School.

The state provides additional money for transportation if students must travel a “hazardous route,” but the provision applies only to traffic, according to Pat Crawford, a spokeswoman for the district.

Superintendent John W. Thompson announced last week that a coalition of private transportation companies had stepped up and offered free busing for those students as a temporary measure.

By Catherine A. Carroll

Vol. 24, Issue 12, Page 4

Published in Print: November 17, 2004, as Pa. Rejects Plea for Busing in Dangerous Neighborhood