Transportation, Busing for Desegregation
and the Lottery Process
Busing for Desegregation:
Wichita Public Schools operates its schools under an agreement forged with the former department of Health, Education and Welfare and currently overseen by the Office for Civil Rights. To comply with Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, USD 259 adopted and continue to implement strategies that eliminate racially segregated schools.
The district has determined an Assigned Attendance Area that encompasses Adams, Buckner Performing Arts Magnet, Spaght Accelerated Magnet Academy and Isely Traditional Magnet, L'Ouverture Computer Technology Magnet, Mueller and Washington Elementary Schools. African American students bused outside the AAA are assigned to schools based on home or childcare address for all grade levels.
The Lottery Process: For a listing of lottery results for the 2007-08 school year please click here
Busing deferment application Deferment Application
The selection process is conducted in late April or early May. Each year 366 dates are placed in a container, and dates are drawn until the required number of students is selected. Students assigned to schools under the desegregation program are provided transportation regardless of distance. Students who are selected by the lottery and attend a AAA school for one year are automatically exempt from further busing. Approximately two thirds of the students who are selected for busing by lottery continue on a voluntary basis after their first year at the assigned school. Notification is sent to all parents and students, and the selected dates are published in the newspaper in the spring. Parents may request an exemption from busing by appealing to the deferment review committee that meets during the summer.
Mission:
The mission of the Transportation Services Department is to provide a safe, cost-effective, high quality transportation service that: maintains the safety of all riders; provides eligible students a positive transportation experience; continuously improves and increases the quality of transportation service with an emphasis on statistical measurement; uses teaming methods to develop and maintain positive working relationships with the bus contractor and our customers so that the mission of the district is supported by providing a safe, effective, efficient transportation service where customers are satisfied and the work force is valued and respected.
Students receive free bus transportation to school from a corner near home, if the distance from home to school is 2.5 miles or greater. State funding finances most transportation costs. Transportation is provided for students who live in areas of the city that meet the board of education's hazardous criteria detailed in Policy 7330. The school district's general fund finances these transportation costs.
There is no school bus transportation to the Bio-Med and TV Production program at North High School or to the three Metropolitan Alternative High Schools. Passes for the city transit line are available upon request from the building principal for students who attend these programs and live 2.5 miles or more from the campus they attend. High schools students who attend Wichita Area Technical College in the morning session are provided transportation from their high school. Those who attend the afternoon session provide their own transportation.
Check with particular schools for starting and ending times; they vary from school to school.
Frequently asked questions about the lottery process
For more information regarding the busing lottery, see Board of Education Policy 5510 or call Pupil Accounting at 316-973-4498.
Transportation:
School Service Center • 3850 N. Hydraulic • Wichita, KS 67219-3399
316-973-2190 • Fax 973-2259
Operations Division Director: Darren Muci, 316-973-2048
Transportation Supervisor: Eric Williams, 316-973-2251
Special Education Transportation:
For information on special education transportation, see Special Education.