Bus passes for all Carroll ISD students went on sale this month and route maps were expected to be available online this week for parent review. The new passes cost $135 per semester or $250 per year with a $500 annual cap for families with multiple children. They are required for all Carroll ISD bus riders, except those who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program and those with special needs who qualify for required transportation.

Trustees voted for the new bus rider fee this spring in an effort to ease the effects of funding cuts causing about a $3 million shortfall in this year's budget. It costs Carroll ISD about $600 to transport one student per year, but as a property-wealthy district, CISD does not receive money from the state to pay for the $2 million or so in annual transportation costs.

A "Pay Your Bus Fee" link on the CISD website is now active and passes are being sold at the administrative building at 3051 Dove Road.

Those purchased online will be delivered to students' home campuses the first week of school. Passes will also be available at campuses during the first week of school. Riders have until Sept. 4 to purchase their passes.