Statement on risks to state & municipality-provided student bussing

WARWICK, RI (February 4, 2025) – The following is a statement from Mark DeCiccio ’03, Principal, in conjunction with the Catholic School Office on potential upcoming impacts to state and municipality-provided student transportation for Bishop Hendricken families:

The State of Rhode Island General Assembly’s Student Transportation Commission is currently discussing changes to Rhode Island student bussing which could have a drastic impact on the availability of transportation to non-public school families, including those here at Bishop Hendricken High School.

The Student Transportation Commission is considering actions that could impact free bussing for Bishop Hendricken students from Warwick, East Greenwich, West Warwick, Coventry, Scituate, Foster, and Glocester. At this point, Bishop Hendricken families could be impacted in a myriad of ways, including the redistricting of bussing regions, charging private school families for bussing on top of the taxes they are already paying, or even the elimination of bussing for non-public school students altogether.

When considering the fact that Bishop Hendricken families are saving their local school districts thousands of dollars each year in per-pupil expenses by sending their students here, cuts or changes such as these seem unfair and unjust.

As Rhode Island parents/guardians, taxpayers, and constituents, I urge you to call, write, and email your state representative and senator to advocate for transportation for all non-public students. Tell them how important this is for your student and your family. You can find your district representative or senator, here, and the Student Transportation Commission members, here.

Additionally, the Diocese of Providence Catholic School Office and Independent School Association of Rhode Island will be advocating for all our families at the next scheduled Joint Student Transportation Commission meeting taking place on Monday, February 10, 2024 at 3:45pm at the statehouse. Brian Cordeiro ’99, Principal of St. Philomena School of the Sacred Heart, will present to the Commission at this meeting alongside William Klements, Assistant Superintendent. I encourage you to join us at the statehouse to make your support visible.

If you have any questions regarding how potential changes might impact Bishop Hendricken families, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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CONTACT: Christian Kabbas ’14
Director of Communications & Marketing
401.889.5395
ckabbas@hendricken.com