Consolidating busing could save schools money
TRAVERSE CITY -- Local school districts under pressure to cut costs could save millions of dollars through regionalizing busing.
7&4 News has learned that several schools in a 5 county area around Traverse City may combine all their busing into one central hub.
Results from a study will be released in a few weeks but school officials say if the plan goes through there will be a centralized bus garage, less drivers, and less routes.
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Superintendent Mike Hill says schools in Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Antrim Counties are facing 13 million dollars in cuts combined for the 2011-2012 school year.
TBAISD Superintendent Mike Hill says, "It is a very difficult position we are in. You look at layoffs it's a hard conversation to have."
Pressure from the state to consolidate services is forcing these districts to look into combining bus services.
Kalkaska Superintendent, Lee Sandy says, "If we show we've done things to improve efficiencies then we are eligible for more money."
The study won't be complete until the end of June, but Hill says they've already regionalized busing for special education and its saving schools a million dollars a year.
Hill says, "You look at that and you look at general education sense its longer more buses more personnel."
While it may provide financial relief, centralizing transportation means tough decisions ahead like longer rides to school for students and possible layoffs for some drivers.
Hill says, "We say non instructional services but truly as a parent children get on bus and first contact they have is with a driver that is the way they start their day."
Just to clarify, Suttons Bay Schools is not part of this study, the district has already saved $500,000 a year by providing student transportation through BATA.
