Middle and High Students Within 'Parental Responsibility Zones' Not Eligible for Transportation to and From School

UPDATE: The school system has made changes to the original information presented below. The changes, which immediately follow this text, are bolded. 

The Barrow County School System (BCSS) values our students and is committed to providing them with the best educational opportunities. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in tough economic times and areno longer able to provide some services that we were able to provide in better economic times. In an effort to balance the limited budget, the BCSS has found it necessary to implement the Parental Responsibility Zone (PRZ) for middle and high school students. The parent(s) or guardian(s) of middle and high school students who live within the PRZ (defined as living within one and one-half mile from the school to which they are assigned, according the nearest practical route by school bus) are responsible for providing transportation to and from the school for which the student is zoned.

What exactly is the Parental Responsibility Zone?

For Middle and High School Students:

Students in grades 6-12 who live within one and one‐half mile from the school to which they are assigned, according to the nearest practical route by school bus, are not eligible for transportation services.

ORIGINAL POST 

The following information was provided by the Barrow County School System and is posted in its entirety to avoid any confusion on the implementation of "parental responsibility zones" and what this means for students. 

The Parental Responsibility Zone

The Barrow County School System (BCSS) values our students and is committed to providing them with the best educational opportunities.  Unfortunately, we find ourselves in tough economic times and are no longer able to provide some services that we were able to provide in better economic times.    In an effort to balance the limited budget, the BCSS has found it necessary to implement the Parental Responsibility Zone (PRZ) for middle and high school students.  The parent(s) or guardian(s) of middle and high school students who live within the PRZ (defined as living within a radius of one and one-half miles from the school to which they are assigned, according to the nearest practical route by school bus) are responsible for providing transportation to and from the school for which the student is zoned.

 

What exactly is the Parental Responsibility Zone?

For Middle and High School Students:

Students in grades 6-12 who live within a radius of one and one-half miles from the school to which they are assigned, according to the nearest practical route by school bus, are not eligible for transportation services.

For Elementary School Students:

At this time, the Barrow County School System will continue to transport elementary school students (grades Pre-K-5) to school.

Why the change to the Parental Responsibility Zone?

The State of Georgia provides very limited funding for student transportation (see below). When times were financially better, our school system was able to finance the transportation of all students within the PRZ using local funds. Unfortunately, as a consequence of the current extreme drop in local tax digest and associated revenue, the BCSS is operating under unprecedented budgetary shortfalls and this is no longer the case. As a result, we must enlist the help of parents and guardians in order to help us bridge the shortfall.  We can no longer afford to transport all students to and from each school and must enact the PRZ. Please understand that the PRZ is not a new policy or rule; the system just now finds that it has to enact it due to very limited funding and as part of providing a balanced budget.

Is The Barrow County School System going to provide sidewalks along potential walking routes?

No. The school system does not have the authority or access to install sidewalks along Barrow County roadways.

What is the State rule concerning Parental Responsibility Zones?

The pertinent rule is EDD 160-5-3-.10 STUDENT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SURVEYS, item (v):

“The number of students living within one and one-half miles of their assigned school shall be included in the data submitted to the Department although it will not be used for the allotment of state funds”.

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/State-Board-of-Education/SBOE%20Rules/160-5-3-.10_dup.pdf

Georgia Education Law20-2-188. Student Transportation also references this:

(d) Students who live beyond one and one-half miles from the school to which they are assigned, according to the nearest practical route by school bus, shall be eligible to be counted as transported students for the purpose of calculating that portion of the expense of student transportation associated with transporting students from home to school and from school to home as authorized under subsection (a) of this Code section, provided such students are actually transported to such school by school bus or other vehicle made available for this purpose by the local unit of administration.  Any student who resides within such mileage limitation shall not be eligible to be counted for school transportation state-aid purposes, with the exception of disabled students being transported.

For additional information, contact the school system by calling 770-867-4527. 

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