The Putnam County School Board voted Tuesday to discontinue funding that delivers transportation for college students inside of a 2-mile radius of day cares, middle schools and high schools.
This decision would be the result of $1.5 million in budget cuts the college board?is aiming to make?for that upcoming school year.
Cuts during the t-mile area helps you to save the school board roughly $650,000.
The school board would like to make cuts in areas that is going to not affect teachers and the educational programs in the classroom, said
Kathy Jorgensen, a member of the Putnam County School Board.
“It’s a hard decision because can certainly it will adversely affect some parents,” Jorgensen said. “I apologize to the parents.”
She estimated 900 students within that area are going to be troubled by the cuts.
Jorgensen suggested various ways like carpooling, cycling and walking.
She said the plan would be to eventually extend the cuts to elementary schools also.
Michael Strauser, a parent or gaurdian and mechanic for your district, had concerns with student safety.
Strauser, who has a daughter in elementary school, falls inside the two-mile element of the school. His loved ones are not currently plagued by these cuts, however they will probably be when his daughter begins middle school or when the cuts are extended.
His concerns include bullying by older kids, walking in the rain or perhaps the dark, kidnapping and sexual predators.
“I simply wish every one of the kids to be safe,” Strauser said.
David Buckles, a member of the Putnam county school board, said the board looks into dangerous areas all of which will provide transportation for kids in those areas.
“We’ll always work with with police force to discover hazardous areas,” Buckles said.
The board is lifetime determine other budget cuts, and Buckles stated it might put funding back to transportation if this finds other possible areas to slice.
Buckles said the board will continue to examine strategies to be sure that the safety of your students.
