Monday, August 24, 2009

In the red, US school districts cut yellow buses - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee


In the red, US school districts cut yellow buses - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:


"About 23 percent of school districts surveyed by the American Association of School Administrators say they are reducing or eliminating school transportation for the coming school year as part of cost-cutting measures. That's up from the 14 percent who considered such measures during the 2008-2009 year.
'I've seen it happening in Massachusetts, in Ohio, in Indiana. A lot of school districts are looking at in varying degrees,' said Robin Leeds, industry specialist with the National School Transportation Association.
Parents and transportation advocates say the proposed cuts will have wide-ranging repercussions - affecting everything from parents' work schedules to student attendance. Many also worry that the cuts will jeopardize the safety of students who may have to cross busy highways or dangerous roads to get to class. Deadly school bus crashes are rare, while past studies have shown riding to school in a car, walking and bicycling account for hundreds of student deaths a year."