Senate committee considers school bus fees

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The fight over school bus fees is moving on to the state Senate.

House Bill 1134 would stop parents in any public school in Indiana from being charged for transportation.

Parents in Franklin Township were charged about $475 this year for each student riding the bus.

The school district leased their buses and transportation to an outside company as a result of budget shortfalls.

Parents were so outspoken against the fee, lawmakers at the state level started listening.

Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, is a sponsor of the House bill.

“If we were to prohibit this fee," he said, "I’m hopeful the school corporation will find it within their budget, and we'll have a safer location before and after school.”

Parent Christine Bischoff attended the Senate Education Committee’s public hearing on the bill Wednesday.

“It is first and foremost about public safety for the children, our children,” she said.

Bischoff said more than half of Franklin Township parents now either drive their children or have them walk to school.

In November, the state issued the opinion that the pay-to-ride plan in Franklin township was unconstitutional.

The school's website currently says it hasn't yet made a decision about how to proceed. The district’s superintendent wasn’t available to comment Wednesday.

One parent is suing the district over the matter.

The House voted 92-2 last week in favor of the bill. The Senate committee did not vote on the bill Wednesday.