Duval County Public Schools, which has recently cut positions and entire schools to right-size its budget, says magnet school transportation will remain.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County Public Schools is trying to put an end to a recent fear that it could soon end its transportation service for students at its more than 50 magnet schools, which offer specialized programs focusing on different themes or career areas.
A school district spokesperson sent out a statement on Tuesday, saying that the bus service is here to stay.
“Duval County Public Schools is committed to addressing the concerns of our families and students regarding transportation for our magnet programs. We understand the importance of reliable transportation in ensuring access to these specialized educational opportunities.
“While the district must continue to evaluate its budget to ensure long-term financial stability, we want to reassure our community that there will not be any changes to magnet program transportation. We value the trust and support of our families and will continue to prioritize student success and accessibility.”
Transportation faced a major change before the 2024-2025 school year, making middle and high school students who live under two miles from their assigned school ineligible to ride the bus. Previously, it had been one-and-a-half miles. The decision, according to the district, impacted around 1,100 students. DCPS also extended the distance a student may live from their bus stop by a half mile.
After the decision came down in 2024, District 3 School Board Member Cindy Pearson said such changes were necessary due to the district’s continuing budget shortfalls.
“There are gonna be hard decisions,” Pearson said. “We were just talking about school closures, that’s part of the conversation. Transportation is part of the conversation as well. Looking at strategic abandonment of programs, that’s part of the conversation.”
Over the last two years, hundreds of teaching positions have been cut and several elementary schools closed and consolidated into others. More of those consolidations are expected over the coming years as the district tries to make up for funding lost due dropping enrollment and the rise of charter schools.