Ninth-graders get free bus tokens
Ninth-graders at Craig and Parker high schools now can get free city bus tokens in a program that seeks to keep them involved in positive after-school activities.
Students at Franklin and Edison middle schools have been able to get the tokens for several years.
Lack of transportation often stops students from participating in after-school activities, according to a news release from Partners in Prevention of Rock County.
The idea to expand the program came from Kevin Porter, athletics director for the Janesville School District.
Porter said he wanted to help freshmen get to offsite programs after school, such as the Boys & Girls Club or library. He also hopes to enable students to participate in after-school activities at their schools, such as clubs and sports, knowing they would have a ride home.
“Out-of-school activities engage youth during after-school hours, which is a critical time because the majority of risky adolescent behaviors such as substance use and crime occur between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.,” according to the news release.
Stephanie Douglas of Partners in Prevention said students have dropped out of such activities because they didn’t have reliable transportation.
The program is funded with about $1,200 from the United Way, Janesville Morning and Noon Rotary and a federal Drug Free Communities grant administered by Partners in Prevention.
The program’s goal is to increase academic achievement, reduce dropout rates and reduce drug and alcohol use.
Douglas said there has been little interest in the free tokens at Marshall Middle School, but that may change with a new principal at the school.
The program may be extended to sophomores if the freshman program is a success, officials said.
To get the tokens
Students who want tokens may contact school counselors at Edison or Franklin middle schools, or from Rick Lehman, Parker assistant principal, or Mark Coombs, Craig assistant principal.
For more information about the bus token program, call Partners In Prevention-Rock County at (608) 758-1844 or visit www.partnersinpreventionrockcounty.org.
Jan 25, 2009 at 7:10 p.m.
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I can't think of a better way to help students
when the need arises. As a retired educator
I would like to have seen this occur many years
ago. This is one way the community can inform
our youth we care and encourage them to become
involved in after school events. I'm totally in support of this for our community.
Jan 25, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.
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This is a great idea if the kids have to sign in and out of the programs for which they receive the tokens. How does this program plan on keeping count of how many tokens go out vs. how many kids actually participate?
Jan 24, 2009 at 10:22 p.m.
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I wish they would offer free bus tokens to children in Beloit, as well.
Jan 24, 2009 at 7:28 p.m.
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In the early '80's, the school district of Dayton, Oh. gave students bus passes. They had a photo and were good Mon.-Fri. to get to school and "school related activities." Many students that lived far enough away to be bussed, but lived in an area that didn't have a high population for that particular school used the city bus rather than the schools paying for school busses that would only have a 1/2 load or less. It worked quite well and would be great in Rock county with the school choice option...if the bus system worked better county wide!
Jan 24, 2009 at 5:42 p.m.
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Is this something the City could provide, since the buses aren't usually filled anyway? Then the money could be spent elsewhere, like on the activities.
Jan 24, 2009 at 4:10 p.m.
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sounds like a good idea but how many kids will use it
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