Whitehall-Coplay School District has restored its own bus transportation for eligible charter school students ages 12 and older following a legal challenge from six charter schools and parent representatives.

The Commonwealth Court approved an agreement Oct. 1 requiring the district to resume transportation by Oct. 5 while the lawsuit continues.

The dispute started this summer when the district changed its transportation policy, directing charter school students ages 12 and older to use LANTA public buses instead of traditional yellow school buses.

WCSD Superintendent Christopher A. Schiffert said in a letter to the district community that the change was part of the district’s efforts to cut costs. He said transporting students who live outside the district puts a strain on the budget as transportation and staffing costs continue to rise.

Schiffert also said the district worked with families who had concerns about students walking to LANTA stops. In some cases, the district continued providing yellow bus transportation.

Students who qualify for special education busing also continued to receive appropriate transportation.

Six charter schools challenged the policy: Executive Education Academy, Lehigh Valley Academy Regional, Lehigh Valley Dual Language, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Roberto Clemente and Seven Generations.

The schools argued the policy treated charter school students differently from students attending district schools. Under the agreement, eligible charter school students will receive transportation in the same manner as district students, with an exception for specialized transportation for students with exceptional needs.

Amanda Cossmann, chief executive officer of Seven Generations Charter School, said the agreement provides relief for students and families while the case continues.

“Our focus remains on ensuring that charter school students have safe and equitable access to their public schools,” Cossmann said in a news release announcing the agreement.

Schiffert maintained using LANTA for older charter school students was a reasonable way to save money.

“We view this transportation change as a responsible financial decision,” he wrote.

The agreement restores transportation for eligible students for now, but the lawsuit is not over. Both sides will continue to pursue their legal positions as the case moves forward.

See the full letter from Superintendent Schiffert below:

“Dear Whitehall-Coplay School District community,

“We wanted to provide you with an update regarding the school district’s changes in transportation for charter school students. This topic will likely continue to receive wide media coverage, and we felt it was important to communicate directly with you as we navigate a challenging financial period.

“Yesterday, the district entered into what is known as a ‘joint stipulation,’ a legal agreement, to return to providing our own district school bus transportation for all charter school students while the matter continues to be heard in Commonwealth Court. This summer, as part of our ongoing efforts to cut costs across many areas in the district, we worked with LANTA, Allentown’s public busing system, to provide bus transportation for charter school students ages 12 and older. Neighboring Allentown School District uses LANTA for busing students, and other urban districts in the state also use their public transportation systems for much of their busing.

“Six charter schools (none of which are within our district boundaries) and parent representatives have chosen to sue the district, challenging our decision in court. We have worked closely with families, responding to any concerns about safety in their child’s walking route to a LANTA bus stop, and in some cases, we have continued to provide our yellow bus transportation. We have also ensured we are providing appropriate school bus transportation for any students who qualify for special education busing.

“Our goal is to continue to focus on providing busing in as safe and cost-effective a manner as possible. We believe that students ages 12 and older can be transported safely on LANTA. As our own school bus fleet continues to age, and transportation costs, including staffing, continue to rise, it is essential that we consider and implement ways to reduce costs. Busing students outside of our district boundaries continues to be a significant financial strain. By subsidizing LANTA bus passes for some charter school students, we can continue to reduce those annual costs.

“We firmly believe the courts, including the Supreme Court, have already set a precedent that this kind of transportation change is fully legal and within our rights as a publicly funded school district that relies on taxpayers for the greatest amount of our annual funding. Like many school districts across Pennsylvania and the country, Whitehall-Coplay has faced a significant budget deficit. We view this transportation change as a responsible financial decision.

“We will continue to focus on providing the best possible educational experience to all our students. We have reminded charter school families that we would welcome any of their children to enroll in the Whitehall-Coplay School District and will work directly with them to meet their child’s needs.

“If you have specific questions or concerns about this issue, or any other matter related to our district and to your child, please contact my office directly at 610-439-1431.

“Thank you for your support of our schools.

“Sincerely, Christopher A. Schiffert”