http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0506/325219.html

Stafford, Va. (AP) - You may soon have to pay up for a ride on a Stafford County school bus.

The county's school board is considering a plan where it would charge a fee for bus rides, student parking permits, athletics and extracurricular clubs.

Stafford County is trying to raise money because it will be getting $14.2 million less next year than the school board had budgeted.

School board members say that many parents and teachers support the idea of paying fees if it means not increasing class size.

Among the proposed fees is a $100 dollar fee per student or $200 dollars per family for regular bus service. Also being considered is a $50 dollar fee for high school athletics and $75 dollar per-car charge for parking permits.

Exceptions would be made for children of school system employees and for students who get free or reduced lunches.

The school board has not decided when the proposals will come up for a final vote.

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This is my county schools and it makes me really mad. I drive to school and it cost me $25 for a parking pass this year. I think that is kind of steep to just go to school. Since gas prices went up I have been riding the bus. What makes me mad about this is if my car is in the shop next year and I just paid for the parking pass I wonder if that means they wouldn't let me ride the bus. It is a stupid concept. Basically charging to go to school. And what about people who walk to school. They should have to pay too.

What do you all think of this concept of charging to ride the bus or charging a heavy price for driving yourself?

I paid $40 to park on campus in college, but high school was free. If they would have made me pay, I might have just walked. I only lived a mile away.

Basically, they are starting to make you pay for everything. Soon enough, they're going to put coin-operated desks in classes, and make you pay a quarter to sit down everyday. 8 periods...25 cents a period...an easy $2 a day, $10 a week...wow...they'd have all sorts of money to waste on stupid crap like the football team!

I paid $40 to park on campus in college, but high school was free. If they would have made me pay, I might have just walked. I only lived a mile away.

Basically, they are starting to make you pay for everything. Soon enough, they're going to put coin-operated desks in classes, and make you pay a quarter to sit down everyday. 8 periods...25 cents a period...an easy $2 a day, $10 a week...wow...they'd have all sorts of money to waste on stupid crap like the football team!well said cathy

Hey, I thought it was kind of crazy that my cousins are from Stafford County, and then when I least expected it I came into this thread and wound up seeing this! I'll have to talk to my aunt and see what she thinks about this...since I doubt the kids really even care.

And yeah, it was $40 a semester to drive to school here, too. But naturally, as it SHOULD be, the bus was free. The only people that had to pay were the ones who lived close enough to school where they technically should have been able to walk...and believe me, there were actually a couple of them that paid it, too.

My school district was going to charge the students to ride the school bus next year but they later restored free bus transportation. They did raise the parking fee to 225.00 which is up from 50.00 this year.

We never had to pay for anything when I was in school. Times sure have changed. I can understand making the kids pay to play sports and participate in other activities. That's the kids/parents choice if they want to take part in that stuff but charging kids to ride the bus is a different story. How are they supposed to get to school? Working parents don't always have time to drive them. Shouldn't taxes be covering bus fees?

I don't think you should have to pay to ride the bus. The bus should be free. Why would you want those who walk to be charged? They are not using up any fuel. I know it might not seem farir, but then again they are using their own two feet verses having someone drive them. Maybe if they didn't spend so much money on the football team like Cathy said they would have more money.

I think if people students have to pay to ride the bus I think the students should pay to walk. For me it's all or nothing. Either everyone pays (including staff and people who walk) or nobody does.

Paying to go to school is gae.

Paying to go to school is gae.

This proves how spoiled we are.

we have to pay for athletics and parking.

its $65/sport but if you do more than 2 then you only have to pay for 2 sports and no more.

i think out parking spots are like $30 for the high school but you can only get one if you are a Jr. or Sr.

i dont even ride the bus so it wont bother me any.

This proves how spoiled we are.
this proves that we have the right to a free ride to school

they will vote on whether they will do charge us in two weeks. I will post the results as soon as they vote.

I drive to school and it cost me $25 for a parking pass this year. I think that is kind of steep to just go to school.

I WISH I were paying $25.

You think $25 is nuts, just wait until college. Next year parking permits for where I go - in an area where the cost of living isn't even over-inflated - is $85

Thats about as much as my highschool... $40/semester to drive to school.
DANG!! when I was in HS, I paid 5 bucks for my parking permit... that was year around

yea, college parking just rapes ya