TUSD considers parent approval for some student travel methods | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is considering changes to its transportation policy that would encourage students to travel on school buses or use parent/guardian pick up and drop off. Students could use alternative transportation methods to travel to and from school, but that choice would come with additional parent approval. 

The proposed changes come after a car struck and killed a student attending Hollinger K-8 School in September after the student got off a city bus and crossed a busy street, TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo told governing board members Tuesday. 

Trujillo said the district wants to make it “as easy as possible for parents to choose district transportation.” 

“A six-year-old child should not be on a city bus navigating all the challenges currently or being asked to cross some of the most dangerous intersections in the city where a lot of these bus stops are located,” Trujillo said.

This parental approval would be an acknowledgment of information received, not a waiver, Robert Ross, TUSD’S general counsel, said. Students would still be able to walk, bike or use other methods.

“What we wanted to do was encourage them to think about whether that’s the safest route, and if they’re going to choose those to make sure that it’s in our records that they are making that choice and they’re recognizing and accepting the risk of those choices,” Ross told members.

Stephania Ahern, a mother of a seventh grader who sometimes rides her bike to school, believes that the proposed policy should be limited to younger children.

“I mean, I understand they’re trying to keep the students safe, I totally get that. But it’s really up to the parents, right? If the parents think their fifth grader is safe riding his bike two blocks home, then it’s fine, right?” Ahern told News 4 Tucson.

The Governing Board advanced the possible policy change Tuesday, which includes high schoolers among the students who would need additional parental permission for alternative transportation methods. However, Board Member Dr. Ravi Shah disagreed with requiring added parental consent beyond fifth graders.

“I think this is creating burdens and administrative issues that aren’t really going to move the needle for anyone who’s a teenager or above,” Shah said.

Superintendent Trujillo mentioned that the added approval would not be a repeat permission but likely part of the registration process each year. These changes are now open to public comment before a second reading.