Monday, February 22, 2010

For school districts on the edge, busing halt considered | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

For school districts on the edge, busing halt considered | freep.com | Detroit Free Press


Parents in Royal Oak soon will be adding chauffeur to the growing list of roles they have in their children's schools.
They soon will be responsible for driving students now that the district has taken the desperate measure of ending busing for about 1,800 general-education students.
Jeanne Dolson is among those trying to find a solution to what could be a logistical nightmare for parents -- how to safely get their kids to school.
"It's going to be a hardship on parents, single parents especially," said Dolson, who is president of the Royal Oak High School Parent Teacher Student Association, which is planning an event soon to connect parents interested in carpooling.

Balancing budgets

Many metro Detroit school districts are considering slashing busing to save money, though few have done it.
Clarkston Community Schools has it on its long list of proposed cuts. It could save the district as much as $2 million. Dearborn Public Schools considered busing cuts, but opted against the plan after having serious internal conversations last fall.