Once Spokane Public Schools students go on summer break next month, they're free to go wherever they want in the city. No, really.
Students in Spokane are eligible for bus passes that will let them take any bus ride for free over the summer.
This week, the Spokane City Council approved $48,000 to fund the Summer Youth Card Pilot Program, which will give free bus passes to Spokane Public Schools students. Students can pick up their card at any of Spokane's six libraries. The program will run from June 13 through Sept. 15.
Students also have free access to other services offered by the parks department. Access to swimming pools, the skating ribbon and skate parks, for instance, will be free to Spokane students. All services at the Spokane Public Library will be free.The goal of the pilot program is to "help children whose parents can't drive them places during the day" to access free city services, according to Spokane Public Schools.
Spokane Transit Authority already offers free bus passes to area college students, including those attending Community Colleges of Spokane, Eastern Washington University, Whitworth, Gonzaga and Washington State University Spokane. STA will track the free rides for the younger students and will bill the city at the end of the three-month pilot project.
