Rockland School District Faces Steep Rise in Tuition and Transportation Costs

Specialized transportation expenses double to $873,000, matching regular bus service; 41% Jump in Out-of-District Tuition

ROCKLAND, MA - June 24 - The Rockland School District is grappling with significant increases in out-of-district tuition and specialized transportation costs, potentially straining the district's budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

During a recent school committee meeting, district officials revealed a 41% surge in out-of-district tuition expenses and a staggering 102% increase in specialized transportation costs.

Jane Hackett, the district's Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Finance and Personnel, presented the figures to the school committee, highlighting the challenges faced by the district.

"Our added district tuition realized a 41% increase from fiscal year 2023 to 2024," Hackett said. "This will also increase our circuit breaker reimbursement."

The district received some relief through emergency funding from the state and additional appropriations from the town to help offset these rising costs.

Specialized transportation, which includes services for special education students, homeless students, and foster children, saw costs more than double. The district now spends approximately $873,000 on specialized transportation, nearly matching its expenditure on regular yellow bus services.

"We're now paying approximately the same amount in those areas as we are for yellow buses," Hackett noted.

To address the escalating transportation costs, the district is implementing a new bidding process for transportation routes. Noelle Novio, a district official, is spearheading this effort, which includes seeking competitive pricing for both summer programs and the upcoming school year.

"We've already realized a couple of route savings, as have a couple of other districts," Hackett explained. "So many people have joined this industry. You see the vans all over the place. So it has brought in some good competition over the course of the last three, four months."

The district is maintaining strict guidelines for insurance, driver qualifications, and safety measures in this new process, which has been reviewed by legal counsel.

Superintendent Alan Cron acknowledged the challenges faced by the district but remained optimistic about the future. "I've had a chance over the past week or so to take a breath and realize all the things that we have to be incredibly grateful for in this district," Cron said.

He highlighted several positive developments, including the successful opening of an $86 million building and the district's ability to maintain or improve academic scores despite changing demographics.

"We haven't closed out the project, but believe me, we'll have some great news for the town when we do so," Cron added.

The district is also dealing with the financial implications of the State housing homeless families at the Comfort Inn. While the state provides some reimbursement, the district bears significant costs for transportation and education services for these students.

"We receive $104 per day that any student is here from the Comfort Inn," Hackett explained. The district is eligible for additional reimbursements through federal programs, but the amounts can vary.

Despite these financial challenges, district officials remain committed to providing quality education and support for all students. The school committee praised the administration's efforts to navigate these difficult circumstances.

"Overall, even with all these changes, it was a fantastic year and you should be proud of it," one committee member commented to Superintendent Cron during his annual evaluation.