Small schools in rural Wisconsin have been in a budget pinch but the Department of Public Instruction has released more than $7 million to help schools meet the high cost of bussing. Several of the schools getting transportation money are in the Northwoods.
128 schools qualified for the aid says DPI spokesperson Tom McCarthy says the aid is directed for districts with above-average school transportation costs....
".....the aid is directed to districts with above-average transportation costs. This year, in a change from previous years, there was a sparcity factor added to that as well, so districts qualifying had to have fewer than 50 students per square mile...."
McCarthy says the high cost transportation aid this year had more money in it, so districts aren't spending money for classrooms on bussing....
"...the general intent of the program is to make sure those districts that have above-average costs are not taking money from classrooms to get the kids to school...."
Among the schools getting aid were Antigo, Elcho, Goodman-Armstrong Creek, Hurley, Lac du Flambeau, Lakeland Union High School, Laona, Northland Pines Mercer, MHLT, Phelps, Phillips, Three Lakes, Tomahawk, and White Lake.
