School expects trend toward minivans

FALLS CITY – Falls City Public Schools is adjusting to state requirements for transportation vans.

Transportation Director Tyler Bek told the school board Monday that the district currently uses a few 11-passenger vans, but new state and federal safety rules will phase those out, as early as this July.

The school expects a shift to small buses or minivans instead of large vans.

Bek said the school may add a minivan to cover trips with fewer riders.

The district’s eight buses traveled 91,000 miles last school year, compared to over 86,000 the prior year. About 370 students were transported daily.

The district is exploring grants to offset the costs of replacement vehicles.

Key education bills passed in the recent legislative session were also listed

• LB 140 – Requires school districts to adopt policies governing student use of electronic communication devices.
• LB 241 – Grants schools immunity from liability in the event of cybersecurity incidents.
• LB 303 – Establishes the School Financing Review Commission to study and recommend improvements to school funding.
• LB 306 – Updates various education statutes, including school admissions, scholarship programs, and introduces a new database for school financial information and foreign funding disclosures.
• LB 390 – Requires school boards to develop policies allowing parents and guardians access to certain school library information.
• LB 645 – Modifies provisions related to the School Retirement Fund.
• LB 647 – An omnibus tax and finance bill that includes changes to property tax request authority, budget limits, and Nebraska’s education savings plan.