Responsive to this request, although no existing HCPSS records reflect the reason for the 1943 law regarding parochial busses, Transportation staff indicates this information has been passed down from previous staff members. Public references, such as this Baltimore Sun article accessed by Transportation staff, indicate “Howard began transporting parochial school students during World War II, when there were efforts to conserve gas and other supplies parents and community leaders said”: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-02-13-1995044079-story.html. For reference, under a document released in response to a previous MPIA, existing records regarding the history of this issue can be found as provided to the Board: https://mpia.hcpss.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/Board%20Memo%20022720%20Parochial%20%20School%20Bus%20Service.pdf.
HCPSS MPIA Request #2020-387
Requested Information
Question and Answer #149 from the FY2020 Board of Education Budget Work Session I states that "Howard County began transporting parochial school students during World War II, when there were efforts to conserve gas and other supplies." Public local laws for at least eight other counties regarding private and parochial busing were passed before, during, and after World War II from 1937 to 1955. Please provide any historical documentation to support the conclusion that the reason for the 1943 Howard County law was because of wartime shortages.
Date Received
Status
Complete
Response Notes
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