Harford County Public Schools on Thursday announced cost-cutting changes promised in the school system's new budget.
“While my Board colleagues and I lamented on approving changes to these services that have been provided for our students for many years, we have arrived at a point where cost-saving strategies are necessary to begin making improvements to our budget picture that will affect generations of students for years to come," school board President Rick Grambo said in a release.
Route changes and consolidations are expected to save the system $890,000. The changes include:
- Moving Bakersfield, Red Pump, Bel Air and Forest Lakes elementary schools to a fourth-tier schedule. School days at those schools will start at 9:30 a.m., with school dismissed at 4 p.m. This allows the school buses to serve more schools, reducing the number of buses the system needs to operate, according to officials.
- An elimination of waivers that allowed students who live near a school (a one-mile radius for elementary students, or one-and-a-half-mile radius for secondary students) to use the school bus.
- Institution of depot stops at home high schools for students in magnet programs.
- Consolidated bus stops for middle and high school students
How do you feel about the changes? How will the affect your family? Tell us in the comments.
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