Proposed Bus Schedule Change Could Pick Up Local Students More Than an Hour Earlier

Local parents and their children might have to wake up earlier to catch the bus in Carroll County if the board of education approves a new schedule to reduce the county budget on transportation.

Board approval of the transportation reduction proposal set for a vote on May 11 would reduce that portion of the fiscal year 2013 budget by $1.2 million.

In order to maintain a balanced budget, school officials have suggested changing school start times, giving each bus driver three routes per day as opposed to the current two routes per day, according to an article by the Carroll County Times.

According to the plan, some schools will start earlier and some later to accommodate the drop in the number of buses on the road. Eldersburg Elementary School would see the biggest change with school starting one hour and 20 minutes earlier than the current 9:05 a.m., instead starting at 7:45 a.m. during the 2012-2013 school year, according to the Carroll County Times.

“In theory, I support the idea wholeheartedly because finding any efficiency in these tough times is extremely important," said Board of Education President Jennifer Seidel. “But I agree that with some families that we’re asking a lot of them to make drastic changes in these schedules, up to an hour for some.

“I’ll be up front in saying my family will be affected by this so people who don’t think we understand, we do. We are saving money as a system but placing the financial burden on parents who have to now find childcare where before they didn’t need it.”

The proposal calls for eliminating as many as 40 bus drivers currently serving the county school system, according to an article by WBAL-TV.  

“I’m looking at a wider scope and looking at the consequence of other reductions,” said Carroll County School Superintendent Steve Guthrie. “I’m weighing the interruption of 26,000 families against the continuing need of Carroll County Public Schools to continue to offer services. I understand the consequence to families, but also understand the overall mission of our organization.”

The board will vote at its May 11 meeting at 5 p.m. in the Charles I. Ecker Boardroom at the board of education offices in Westminster.