Some kids are more equal than others?

From Sentinal.org, "Youth commission takes a stand on bus passes"

An assembly of youths who advise local governments in Multnomah County is throwing its clout behind a proposal to extend free bus passes to private school students.

A plan formed this fall by the city of Portland, Portland Public Schools and Tri-Met offers free bus rides to public high school students in the city, regardless of income. Private school students are left out.

At a Multnomah Youth Commission meeting earlier this month, members were clear in their support of expansion. It was the commission that first pushed for free bus passes, intending that everyone get them.

Uncertainty over the cost of the Business Energy Tax Credit — which provides the bulk of funding for the passes — has put the brakes on the hoped-for addition. City officials have advised holding off on a decision until after the Oregon Legislature meets early next year.
This fall, the exclusion of private institutions rankled students and parents from Catholic schools, many of whom struggle to pay tuition and send children on long bus rides each day. Similar programs in Eugene and Salem do include private schools.

Catholic school officials say that, like anyone else, private school parents pay the taxes that fund public schools.

At a Multnomah Youth Commission meeting last month, Pam Wood asked youth leaders to think of a way to include private school students, perhaps by transferring pass privileges from public school students who do not use them. Wood is a counselor at De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland.

The goal of the free pass program, called YouthPass, is to reduce carbon emissions from driving trips.

“The Youth Commission’s goal continues to be eventual expansion of YouthPass to all middle- and high-school students throughout Multnomah County,” says Reese Lord, who oversees education strategy for Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

Despite the funding uncertainty, Lord plans to convene private school representatives in the next several months to devise an expansion plan.

Another Adams aide has said the mayor is behind expanding the free rides to all students.

In Salem this year, it appeared that private schools may not be part of a free ride program offered by Salem-Keizer Transit.

But Chuck Lee, the president of Blanchet Catholic School who also sits on the Salem-Keizer school board, raised the issue. The policy changed.