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School Times Switch-Back May Be Delayed

A controversial Orange County school schedule swap has been reversed, but may not stay that way. At least one member of Orange County's transportation task force is wondering if the switch-back should be delayed.

Lynda Harrell-Biggar says she is still adamantly against the schedule swap. She drives her child to Odyssey Middle School so he doesn't have to wait for the bus in the dark and her child that goes to Doctor Phillips High School is cramming in sports and homework after classes that don't end until 4:00pm.

"Ugh, this fall I didn't even see my high schooler," said Harrell-Biggar.

Lynda Harrell-Biggar says she spent nine weeks on the school district's transportation task force coming up with recommendations that could save the department money.

She now wants the school board to at least consider leaving middle and high school start times the way they are. The flip is on track to save $4 million in 2009.

"We had no idea the budget cuts were going to be so severe and at this point I think you have to absolutely look at everything," she said.

The task force will also recommend eliminating buses that drop off about 400 students at the Excel Alternatives School for at-risk students. The district told us getting rid of 30-40 buses for the program could save $2 million.

"It would put me and my wife in a bind," said parent Antonio McCree.

McCree says they're in a position to adjust and get their daughter to school, but he's worried about the at-risk students who come from low income communities and single parent homes with no transportation.

"I do believe a lot of them would say forget school," he said.

The school board is scheduled to hear recommendations at a work session Thursday. The board believes another task force should be formed to review the law that requires the district transport homeless students back to their neighborhood schools.

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