New ASD student rates will begin January 2018
Allentown, PA (January 8, 2018) –Allentown School District students will have their daily commuting costs slashed by 50% or more starting February 5, 2018 as a result of an agreement between the school district and Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA). Allentown middle and high school students will be able to purchase a Day Pass at their school for just one dollar. The current fare is one dollar each way. The announcement of the cooperative program was made jointly by LANTA’s Executive Director, Owen P. O’Neil and Allentown School District Superintendent Thomas E. Parker.
Allentown School District and LANTA will introduce new student fare structure at a news conference Tuesday, January 9 at 3:30 p.m. at William Allen High School located at 106 N. 17th Street.
The passes will provide financial relief to many students who ride the bus to school, and will also enable them to travel on any LANTA bus route to and from school. The pass will also allow them to transfer lines at no additional cost, providing students added mobility to travel after school and within city limits helping those students who may have after school jobs.
Allentown School District Superintendent, Thomas Parker expects that the provision of consistent access to reliable transportation will have the ability to help increase attendance and decrease student lateness to school.
“Students who are physically present in the building are more likely to achieve academically,” said David Wildonger, Acting Deputy Superintendent, who oversees transportation for the district. “There is significant research that children who eat breakfast are more likely to make better food choices during the day, and evidence that eating breakfast positively affects learning in terms of behavior, cognitive and school performance. In Allentown, 100% of students are eligible to receive free and reduced food services from our schools.”
Passes will be available for purchase at all seven district middle and high schools and passes that schools currently have will remain valid. LANTA coordinates local bus routes to pass by schools in accordance with school bell schedules, giving students enough time to arrive before the first bell and as well as time to catch their afternoon bus.
“The one dollar DayPass not only permits students to go to and from class, but also can be used to get to after-school jobs and other activities,” O’Neil said. “That can make the discount even greater than fifty percent,” he added. The new passes make it easy for students to purchase at their school site, and speed up the boarding process by eliminating the need to stop and purchase tickets at the fare box.
O’Neill said LANTA is in talks to make the same offer available to all school districts in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
At the end of the school year, the district will work with LANTA to host informational sessions for grade 5 students transitioning to middle school on the topic of bus riding safety.
Allentown School District and LANTA will introduce new student fare structure at a news conference Tuesday, January 9 at 3:30 p.m. at William Allen High School located at 106 N. 17th Street.
About the Allentown School District
The Allentown School District serves nearly 17,000 students in a network of 22 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools throughout the city of Allentown, PA. The Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. The District’s Mission focuses on providing a safe, rigorous and engaging educational experience that prepares all students to excel in learning and life. We seek to guide ASD students on their individual journey to realize their aspirations whether they be college, career or in technical focus. The ASD goals are aligned and compatible with the Pathways to Success Framework while providing a balanced education to all students. The Allentown School District employs approximately 1,300 teachers, staff and administrators. Founded in 1866 serves students from 51 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent household qualifying as low income. The ASD is committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to education programs and resources. www.allentownsd.org
About a LANTA: Founded in 1972, LANTA serves Lehigh and Northampton Counties providing more than 5-million trips daily with LANtaBus fixed-route and LANtaVan divisions. For more information visit: http://www.lantabus.com/
Information Provided By:
Melissa Reese
Communications Manager
Office of Communications
Allentown School District
www.allentownsd.org/
