Southgate School District Makes Bus Cuts – WWJ Newsradio 950.
While they’re not closing any schools, the Southgate district is doing away with some busing. The district voting this week to cut busing for eighth through twelfth grades — and to move to “one-way busing” for sports teams.
Superintendent Dave Peden said neighboring Trenton schools have tried it, and many parents like the idea.
“They don’t have to wait at the school for that doggoned bus to get back, and that saves them time,” Pedon said. “And, so many parents were writing notes to transport their kids home anyhow, it just seemed to make a lot of sense,” he said.
Peden says the big savings will be in overtime pay, because they won’t have to pay bus drivers to wait around for games to end.
Meantime, Peden said they’ve also upped the sports participation fee from $80 to $100 per student.
The district is trying to close a $4 million budget hole for next academic year.
(Editor’s Note) While I understand there are budget concessions that must be made, I’m left to wonder how, exactly, a single parent is supposed to let a child walk 3.9 miles to school every day? This is a decision I’m faced with making, since I start work at 7am every day 40 miles away from home.