Office of Communications Sharon L. Contreras, Ph.D. 725 Harrison St. • Syracuse, NY 13210 Superintendent of Schools Phone 315•435•5800• Fax 315•435•4015

For  Immediate  Release  December  7,  2015   For  more  information,  please  contact  the  Office  of  Communications  at  435-­‐5800.    SCSD  and  Centro  Reach  Agreement  to  Provide  Transportation    For  More  High  School  Students     The Syracuse City School District and Centro have reached an agreement that will allow the school district to transport high school students who live more than one and a half miles from school. Previously any student living under two miles from their high school did not qualify for bussing. “Many of our SCSD high school students have actively proclaimed that two miles is too far for them to walk to school, and they are right,” Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras said. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Centro that supports the best interest of our students, providing bus service to high school students who live more than 1.5 miles from school. The District remains committed to developing an infrastructure that supports student success, and this modified transportation policy is a step in the right direction, making it easier for high school students to arrive at school ready to learn.” Under the new agreement, approximately 500 additional SCSD high school students will be offered bus transportation. Centro has the capacity to transport the additional students based on a recent evaluation of their capability. The Board of Education must revise the current Board policy to reflect the new eligibility limits. “This historic agreement will mean a safer route to school for hundreds of SCSD students and I am pleased to support this deal,” said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner. “Students who live more than 1.5 miles who, until now have been required to walk to school, will have safe, reliable busing available to them. That mile and a half walk, the equivalent of going from City Hall to the Carrier Dome, is not what students need before early morning classes or following extracurricular activities. With this new policy, more students will have a safer passage to and from their schools and be able to focus on learning rather than their transportation. I applaud the District and Centro for reaching this agreement.” Expanded bus routes to serve the additional group of students are expected to begin in mid-winter. “We are in the business of moving people and we are happy to be able to fully accommodate the Syracuse City School District’s request to transport these additional students,” said Centro Executive Director Frank Kobliski. “After careful evaluation of data provided to us by the District, we will be able to transport these additional high school students by extending current services, but without adding additional vehicles.” The press is invited to the announcement today at 2:00 PM at Henninger High School (600 Robinson St.) in the school library.

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