To save money, Mohawk won't bus all students

[ Originally published on: Thursday, November 26, 2009 ]

BUCKLAND -- Faced with a two-thirds mid-year reduction in state school bus aid, the 250-square-mile Mohawk Trail Regional School District will cut the equivalent of 3.5 buses out of this year's 16.5-bus lineup.

Because state law doesn't mandate school bus service for children living within 1.5 miles of school, this change means at least 60 Buckland elementary students will no longer be able to take the bus to the Buckland Shelburne Elementary School, starting Jan. 4, according to Superintendent of Schools Michael Buoniconti.

Buoniconti said he and other school officials met Tuesday night with the parents of children affected by the transportation cut. BSE Principal Clay Connor will be working with parents to organize carpools and will be reviewing the school's attendance policy, to make sure children walking to school will be accounted for, Buoniconti said.

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