School Bus Routes Off To Bumpy Start

Gas Prices Oil Prices Big changes for Mobile County Schools this school year. Some students may now have trouble getting to class.

by Diana Lucio

Published: Thu, August 07, 2008 - 7:51 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, August 11, 2008 - 4:38 pm CST

Wendy Ham enjoyed spending her summer in band practice at Murphy High School. With her Senior year less than a week away, she says she was hoping for a hassle free year.

"My mom for now is gonna have to drive us to school, I'm about to get my license an then I'll be driving my sister you know almost an hour everyday and it's dangerous on the roads,"Said the Murphy High School student. The Mobile County School System says around 400 other high school students, like Wendy, will have to find other ways to get to school this year. It's part of the school system's plan to save money on gas mileage by cutting 15 bus routes. School officials say students who participate in special advanced learning programs are going to feel the brunt of the bus route cuts. But some parents we spoke with aren't too happy about it. "These are the children they want in the school that are the overachievers that are in the I.B. C.I.S programs and it's just making it harder for them to be in those programs and to be apart of Murphy," Said Jessica McIntyre, a parent of a Murphy High School student.

"We're tapped out in terms of our transportation budget and I'm obviously quite frightened about any increase in fuel costs that might occur during this next school year, "Said Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols with the Mobile County School System.
Meantime, students like Ham who will now have to fend for themselves are preparing for a bumpy ride. "My sisters a freshman cheerleader this year so on the days that she's not here with band, she's here for cheerleading and so my mom's here. We live an hour away and as the gas prices are rising it just gets worse and worse," Said Ham.

School officials tell us if gas prices go up another 30 cents, we may see some more bus route cuts this year. In the meantime, officials are encouraging parents to carpool. To find out if your child's bus route has changed you could call their school or check the school system's website here.

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