LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lake County School Board decided to table some changes that could affect every student Monday night.
The district wanted to change school start times and transport middle and high school students on the same bus routes to save money, but tabled that decision until the next school year.
Board members did vote to cut bus service for students who live within 2 miles or less of school.
Some parents WFTV spoke to didn't know the items were on the table.
The superintendent suggested Monday that there weren't enough parents aware of the proposed major transportation changes.
Parent Carrie Harper said she was against the school board's plan to transport high school and middle school students on the same buses.
"Just the way the world is today, I just don't like that idea," Harper said.
The board is trying to fill a $16 million hole in its budget. The busing plan would save $1.5 million per year, but would change school start times.
"Well, it's far more efficient to have one school bus with 60 students on it, than two school buses with 30 students on them," Chris Patton with Lake County Schools said.
Middle school students would have to start 90 minutes earlier than they do now.
Parents said it could be impossible for some to change their work schedules to match it.
"It would be a lot more expensive to find after care, especially if you're working and can't get home in time to pick up the kids," parent Tracy Temple said.
The primary objection for parents WFTV talked to was putting middle school and high school students on the same bus.
"Kids today, they're so grown up. I don't want my daughter any older than what she needs to be," Harper said.
Amy Hunter is a middle school teacher and parent with children in sixth and ninth grades.
"I just recently found out about this at the beauty shop on Friday," Hunter said.
The school board voted to table that decision for two reasons: One was because of new routing software yet to be installed and used to streamline bus routes, and the other was because of a negative audit which showed sloppy bookkeeping pertaining to district reimbursement from the state for transportation costs.
The board voting to get rid of bus service for students who lived within 2 miles or less from school would affect 4,300 students, many of them in elementary school.
The cut would save about $650,000, but it would create another problem: It would be up to the cities and the county to provide for crossing guards, and many municipalities are already strapped for cash.
WFTV
