City council adopts new statutes for school transport
At its meeting yesterday, Chemnitz City Council approved the new statutes of the City of Chemnitz on school transport presented by the administration in draft resolution B-059/2015.
Eligible persons: Eligible persons with regard to school transport are school-age pupils who have their main residence in the Free State of Saxony and attend a school on the territory of the City of Chemnitz. A multi-year application is required for primary schools, secondary schools, grammar schools and special schools in the city of Chemnitz as well as state-authorised independent substitute schools. An annual application is still required for vocational schools and special transport services.
If eligible, the costs of using public transport or private vehicles will be reimbursed at a monthly rate of 50% of the cheapest fare for a maximum of 10 months per school year. With the new regulations, it is no longer necessary to submit corresponding proof. Further detailed information on reimbursement requirements, dates and deadlines can be found in the City of Chemnitz statutes on school transport.
About the application: The application forms required to apply for reimbursement are available at the schools, at the City of Chemnitz Education and Sports Office (located at the Moritzhof Civic and Administration Centre, Bahnhofstraße 53) and online at www.chemnitz.de on the pages of the City of Chemnitz service portal (link: http://vis.stadt-chemnitz.de/eap/leistungen/de/leistungen-abc.itl).
In the current 2014/2015 school year, there have been no significant changes in the number of applicants compared to the 2013/2014 school year.
For 2016, the City of Chemnitz plans to spend €1,136,957 on school transport by public transport or private car for around 6,300 pupils.
The entitlement to a special transport service is differentiated with the new statutes. The aim is to enable pupils to use public transport.
In the current 2014/2015 school year, around 450 pupils are using the special transport service. Expenditure in 2016 is planned at around 1.4 million euros.
Background: In accordance with Section 23 (3) of the Education Act for the Free State of Saxony, the City of Chemnitz is responsible for providing the necessary transport for pupils travelling to and from school at public and state-approved alternative schools run by independent providers. Details, in particular on the scope and delimitation of the necessary transport costs, including the determination of minimum distances, the amount and procedure for charging a personal contribution, lump sums or maximum amounts for reimbursement of costs, are to be laid down in a statute.The details, in particular the scope and delimitation of the necessary transport costs, including the determination of minimum distances, the amount and procedure for charging a personal contribution, flat rates or maximum amounts for the reimbursement of costs as well as preclusive periods for the assertion of claims for reimbursement and the actual procedure for the reimbursement of costs between the pupil or legal guardian and the school authority, must be regulated in the statutes.
Publication: The new statutes will be published in the official gazette of the City of Chemnitz and will come into force on 1 August 2015. The document will also be published online at www.chemnitz.de and is also available to read at schools and the city's education and sports office.