The “voluntary school bus” project in Paunzhausen is being extended.
However, the bus has to get bigger - this also increases the costs.
Paunzhausen
- The “voluntary school bus” from Paunzhausen continues.
After a year of testing, the local council has now extended the project.
However, the bus has to be bigger because of the increasing number of children - and with it the costs for the community increase.
The mayor had expected a different result
A year ago there was a majority decision in favor of a test project to bring elementary school students from Hohenbuch, Schernbuch and Walterskirchen to school with their own bus. A minibus was enough for the eight children. Councilor Annette Baier presented a very impressive balance sheet, because the bus was used almost 100 percent by the families. The parents paid a good 800 euros of their own contribution, the community took over 6200 euros of the costs for this test run. In view of the fact that the offer had been used so well, Baier suggested at the latest municipal council meeting that the school bus be continued through the municipality for the primary school students.
Mayor Johann Daniel had rather expected that the bus would take care of itself after the trial period. He emphasized that the families from the districts are not entitled to the bus because the distance to the primary school is too short. It is a purely voluntary service on the part of the community. Due to the high number of users, Annette Baier suggested to the local council that the offer should be continued, but she also had to report new challenges: The number of children in the districts rose from eight to 13, which is why the nine-seater is no longer sufficient. A year ago, apart from the small van, the community only received offers for large buses. This means that the costs are expected to rise to EUR 13,300 with the parents paying almost EUR 1,000.
Annette Baier made it clear that the community is supporting young families in the community with the investment.
The municipal council combined the decision to continue the school bus with the condition that the administration should once again obtain offers from bus companies.
There is hope here that a small bus with around 20 seats could become cheaper.
Mayor Johann Daniel said that baby boomers are coming and that buses will have to be used for elementary school in the coming years.
Worry about legal difficulties
In the discussion about school transport, the local council also looked at the other figures. One hour before the voluntary primary school bus through the municipality, another school bus drives that is taking three children to Schweitenkirchen in the current school year. Johann Daniel emphasized that the two trips cannot be combined, which is also due to connecting trips of the Schweitenkirchen bus. In addition, the topic arose whether the bus transport offer could also be extended to kindergarten. “I'm out of there”, scolded Mayor Johann Daniel and mocked, “that we can then build a delivery room right away”.
He warned that there were legal difficulties in transporting kindergarten children. That is why other municipalities have also discontinued corresponding offers. Johann Daniel warned against expanding these purely voluntary services of the community again and again. Ultimately, the decision was then made with three points. The municipal bus for primary school students from the districts will remain in place. With requests for a small bus with 20 seats one will try to limit the cost increase. At the same time, the Paunzhausen community will investigate how dangerous the journey to school is for the children being transported. If there are danger points, you could apply for state funding.
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