Peabody bus pass process going better

PEABODY – Collecting transportation fees has been a much smoother process this year than last, said Peabody School Business Manager Mike Musto.Musto credits the ease to the School Committee’s decision to require a flat, one payment option, as well as their quick action to get the ball rolling.”We’ll learn each year,” he said. “Last year was our first year and it was sort of a fiasco. This year, we made some adjustments.”Registration forms were mailed out to students before the end of the school year. Parents had until July 30 to return their transportation requests, along with a personal check, bank check, or money order in their household amount. Fees will run the same as last year at $100 per student with a $200 household cap. A reduced rate was provided for those in need of financial assistance. Students living more than two miles from school will be given free transportation.Musto said that so far, approximately 600 students have not returned their bus pass forms, the majority of which are at the high school and middle school level.The school has collected roughly $162,000 in bus transportation fees, leaving them an estimated $40,000 shy of their budgeted amount of $200,000.”If (the money) is going to come in, it’s got to come in soon,” said Musto, who listed the absolute deadline date of Friday, Aug. 22. “After that, it’s just not possible.”Riders need to submit their requests as soon as possible because the school needs to finalize their bus route plans. Musto said there’s no way for the school to add buses once they’ve made cuts.”We’re budgeted for 23 busses,” he said. “But if we don’t need 23, we have to inform (the bus company) now because they’ll want to use those buses elsewhere?We’re not going to pay $50,000 for a bus and not use it.”Musto said that in the event the schools do not need a 23rd bus, they’ll save about $56,000 in rental fees, which would potentially offset the $40,000 deficit from unreturned requests.Bus passes this year are expected to be printed by the end of next week, said Musto. They’ll take new form and replicate plastic credit cards and feature the student’s name, address, school and bus number.