ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 3, 1991                   TAG: 9103020048
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PROBLEMS WITH PROPOSAL TO CHANGE SCHOOL HOURS

The Montgomery County School Board has done some pretty stupid things in the past, but its latest proposal to change school hours really takes the cake. Apparently little thought was put into this proposal, or its many problems would have been obvious.

\ 1. With high school students catching the bus up to one hour before elementary students and many parents working, numerous small children will be left at home alone to tend for themselves. Day care is not always affordable or available.

\ 2. Students in middle and high school will start getting on buses at 6:45 a.m. This means standing on the road in the dark, thus endangering lives.

\ 3. Montgomery County is always one of the last counties to announce school closings due to bad weather. How far into a route will a driver be before knowing of closings? On days when it is icy or cold, how will the new schedule affect delayed openings? All of these things endanger the lives of both students and drivers.

\ 4. Buses will be running the same routes twice, thus doubling current daily mileage and causing increases in fuel, tire and maintenance costs. In many rural parts of the county, double runs are not feasible. Many bus drivers will be driving twice as long with no increase in pay. There will be twice as many deadhead miles with no students on board. The state reimburses the county for fuel costs when students are on board, but not for deadhead miles. Once again, increased costs.

The School Board estimates a savings of $80,436 by cutting 12 bus driver jobs and going to this new schedule. This is an amount that will be more than eaten up by increased costs of duplicating runs.

Even if there could be a savings with the new schedule, is it worth the risk to the children? In a $38 million budget, there must be other areas where cuts could be made.

Saving money is great, but not at the expense of our children. We have not spoken to one parent, teacher or student who favors this new schedule when taking safety into consideration. We urge all citizens of Montgomery County to call or write the School Board and the School Administration office and voice their disapproval and concern.\ Pam Bandy\ Joyce Spangler\ Janice Wilcher\ Shawsville

Note: The School Board says that saving money is not the goal of the schedule change, but rather an equalization of hours for teachers and students. 


 by CNB