Councilman Wants GCPS to Provide Transportation to Grayson Tech

A Dacula councilman wants Gwinnett County Public Schools to make it easier for students to attend an innovative program at Grayson High School.

believes the county school system is wasting a tremendous opportunity by not providing student transportation to the .

“I don’t see how they can justify saying ‘We will provide transportation to Maxwell High School, but we have no intention of doing it to Grayson High School.’ How do you differentiate between those students?” Montgomery asked.

Do you think GCPS should provide transportation to the Grayson Technical Education Program? Tell us in the comments.

Grayson Tech offers students a chance to graduate from high school “career ready” in a number of fields including video production, veterinary sciences, music recording, music technology, sports medicine, advanced engineering, IT networking systems, law enforcement, biotechnology, digital media and design, commercial photography and culinary arts.

Montgomery feels Grayson Tech students are just as deserving of transportation support as those who attend Maxwell High School.

Montgomery acknowledges that the high price of fuel over the past few years may have contributed to the school system’s decision not to provide transportation from other schools to Grayson Tech. However, now that prices have fallen, Montgomery feels school officials should revisit that decision.

“I think they have the constitutional mandate to do this,” he said.

Montgomery said the school system is shortchanging students in Dacula and other parts of the county by not providing transportation to a school that is publicly funded, fully staffed and ready for students.

In an emailed response to questions, Jorge Quintana, director of media relations for GCPS, wrote, “In planning for the opening of the Grayson High Technical Education program, it was with the understanding that the school district would not offer transportation services. This is one of several district wide programs where there is no transportation. Other programs open to all students without transportation services include the JROTC programs housed at other high schools. The district is not able to provide transportation; however, the programs are open to all students. Families provide their own transportation for their students involved in these programs.”

Quintana added that GCPS spends close to $70 million a year on transportation, but only receives $5 million in state funding.

“The difference is made up by local funds which have significantly declined over the past three years due to the declining property tax digest,” Quintana wrote. “Therefore, there is not a surplus in this budget line.”

Though Montgomery feels transportation is the school system’s responsibility, he intends to seek help from the private sector if necessary. However, he said, the main issue in going outside the school system for transportation assistance is liability.

“Any time something happens to a child, there’s certainly legal aspects to deal with,” he said. “That’s why I want the county transportation department to step up and do their job.”

Though some students are old enough to drive to Grayson Tech, not all students can afford cars and many do not have parents available to drive to and from Grayson each day.

“Because we refuse to transport them, we’re wasting all that money and all that opportunity,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery feels more students would take advantage of the programs Grayson Tech offers if transportation were available.

“I’ve talked to a number of parents and by and large most of them had no idea these programs were available,” he said. “A lot of them are really interested in their children having access to them.”

To learn more about the programs at Grayson Tech, visit www.GraysonTech.org. 

Grayson Tech will also hold an open house on Nov. 15 for prospective students and their parents. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Grayson Technical Building, 50 Hope Hollow Road in Loganville.