Hempfield school officials consider waiving driving fees, allowing carpooling

Hempfield school officials want to limit the number of students utilizing school buses during the coming year to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

During Monday’s public meeting, Superintendent Tammy Wolicki presented a preliminary plan that could give high school students more leeway when driving to school, making room for more buses on the elementary and middle school levels.

“Our district covers 95 square miles, which makes it very costly for transportation, and certainly nearly impossible to just add more school buses because of the cost factor,” Wolicki said. “We’ve given a lot of consideration just over the last week over how can we better utilize our school buses in order to social distance.”

To encourage students to drive, officials are considering waiving a $35 fee paid annually by high school students who drive to school. In all, the fee brings in about $12,000.

Wolicki said students will be able to carpool with a parent’s permission, a change from past years when only siblings were allowed to drive to school together.

While plans are not yet official, district leaders are looking at where students could park — behind the stadium press box or across Route 136near Harrold Middle School — and potential staffing needs those decisions could create.

A survey will be issued to high school students to determine who will need transportation. Based on the responses, buses will be rerouted and, in some cases, utilized for elementary and middle school students to limit the number of students per bus.

Parents also will be encouraged to drop off and pick up younger students whenever possible.

Wolicki noted that the initial plans do not include transportation for students with special needs. She said those plans will be addressed at a later date.