School bus abolition in the Alb-Donau district: parents fight back!

School bus abolition in the Alb-Donau district: parents fight back!

In the Alb-Donau district, there is a threat of significant change for the families of primary school students: from August 2025, the free bus subscription for children in grades 1 to 4 will be abolished. This affects around 2,000 young students and is seen by those responsible as a necessary cost reduction in order to save one million euros annually. These measures are part of an extensive savings program due to a deficit of up to 17 million euros, as SWR reports.

The district council's decision, which was made at the end of May, is causing great concern among parents. Especially in rural areas, many children rely on the school bus to get to school. A mother from Hörvelsingen, Melanie Metwalli, puts it in a nutshell: “The costs are passed on to the families.” In the future, parents will have to pay around 40 euros per month for the bus subscription. If you have several children, the financial burden quickly becomes enormous; This could cost up to 1,500 euros per year.

Online petition launched

Concerned parents have started an online petition against this unpleasant development. Since June 9th, around 2,000 supporters have already found themselves who are committed to maintaining free school trips for primary school children. The aim is to persuade the district council to reconsider the decision and not to further increase the financial burden on families. Families with several children will be particularly hard hit, as relief for third and subsequent children will be canceled without replacement. This could ultimately cost at least 473 euros more per year per child, as OpenPetition explains.

The problem is not new and is also evident in other districts. In the Heidenheim district, for example, parents have been paying their own share for school transport for 30 years, which amounts to around 30 euros per month. In the Ostalbkreis, too, the personal contribution is around 20 euros. These additional costs are perceived as a major burden, particularly in rural regions.

Legal situation regarding school transport

The Advocard explains the legal framework for school transport: In Germany, school transport is the responsibility of the federal states, with public school authorities such as cities and districts having to take responsibility. In many federal states, including Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, transportation is free for primary school students from a distance of at least two kilometers to school.

The abolition of the free bus service catches families unprepared, especially since students in rural areas are dependent on school transport. District Administrator Heiner Scheffold emphasized that a reassessment was conceivable in the future, but the decision for the coming school year could no longer be reversed.

The discussion about school transport not only highlights the financial challenges for families in the Alb-Donau district, but also the general problem of accessibility to public transport in rural areas. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether the district council will respond to pressure from parents.