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Chester County Press

After-school bus will be offered in Unionville-Chadds Ford

08/13/2014 10:27AM ● By Lev

By John Chambless

Staff Writer

Parents who have children in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will be getting a helping hand this fall, when buses will begin picking up students at after-school activities.

In a letter posted on the school district's website on Aug. 7, parents were told that, “Last year, the district conducted a survey and spoke with families about creating an after-school activities bus. Based on these discussions, this fall, the district will offer a bus for a fee. This service will commence on a trial basis. It is our hope to continue this bus service beyond the fall; however, we will determine if we can afford to continue to offer this service based on student use this fall.”

The after-school activities bus service is designated for students in the middle and high schools. The buses will operate for 37 days, beginning Aug. 25 and continuing through Oct. 30. They will operate Monday through Thursday, two times each day. The buses will depart from the middle school's main entrance at 4:45 p.m., and from the high school at 5:50 p.m. from the gymnasium entrance.

The high school cafeteria will remain open until 5:45 p.m. each day that the activities bus runs. Students will be wait in the cafeteria if their after-school activity ends before the bus pick-up time. The

cafeteria will be open to sell food. The high school library will remain open for students

until 4:30 p.m. The middle school library will also remain open until 4:45 p.m.

The bus will drop off students depending on each day's ridership. Most students will probably be dropped off at existing neighborhood school bus stops. The longest ride time is estimated to be about an hour.

A fall season pass will provide access to either bus – 4:45 or the 5:50 -- any Monday through Thursday for 37 days (Aug. 25 to Oct. 30) for $145. A 10-day pass may be used any day Monday through Thursday during the fall season. If the activities bus continues beyond the fall, 10-day passes would be transferable to the winter and spring, but are not transferable to a sibling or friend. A package of 10-day passes will be $60.

If students have not purchased a season pass or a 10-day pass and need to take the activities bus home,

they will be charged $8 per day. Students will not be charged that day, but will need to give the driver their student name and ID number, and the student will be billed.

A season pass for a second child, or each additional sibling, is $90 per child after the first season pass of $145 is purchased. A form is posted online for parents to fill out before purchasing passes for the buses. Visit www.ucfsd.org to see the online form.

The letter to parents noted that, “The UCFSD is attempting to cover the costs of the late bus service each day without having an impact on the district budget and local school taxes. It will be most helpful to the district in planning for the appropriate number of buses each day if families and students purchase season passes or 10-day passes in advance. If more students sign up for season passes than expected, the district will be able to reduce rates in the future.

“We know many families have requested this type of service and we hope our families find it helpful and affordable,” the letter states.

For more information, call Jodie Weaver at the high-school athletic office (610-347-1600, ext. 3082