MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - Buses could be more crowded and take longer to reach schools and staff could be cut as a result of the state’s rejection of Muncie Community Schools’ request to halt bus service at the end of this year, officials say.
The Indiana Department of Education denied a waiver earlier this month that would have allowed the district to stop bus service after this school year instead of giving three years’ notice as required by state law.
The Jan. 10 decision came two months after Muncie voters rejected a property tax increase that would have provided $3.3 million for bus service, The Star Press reported (https://tspne.ws/K2YJVa ).
School officials sought the tax increase and waiver because of an 89 percent cut to the district’s transportation fund. The rejection of both measures has left them scrambling to find about $2 million needed to keep buses on the road next year.
The district is looking at restructuring some routes and expanding walk zones, but Chief Financial Officer Mark Burkhart told school board members they will need to consider further steps. Those could include eliminating the in-house buses that take students to athletic events, band events and field trips.
He said money for the buses likely would have to come from the general fund, “which will require cuts in staffing” in the 6,800-student district.
The busing issue is the latest financial problem to beset the district. Enrollment and funding declines led its school board to vote in November to consolidate its two high schools into one despite impassioned pleas from many residents.
Burkhart said several state suggestions for trimming transportation costs aren’t feasible in the district. One idea, to charge for some extra-curricular transportation, wouldn’t raise enough money. The district can’t change bell times because of the low number of buses running to the high school. And Burkhart said car transportation isn’t feasible because of the low economic status of many of the district’s families.
The school board can submit additional waiver petitions, but it’s not clear whether the board will pursue those.
The district is using reserve funds to keep the 74 buses running through the end of the year.
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Information from: The Star Press, https://www.thestarpress.com
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