As the start of a new school year begins, students at Harford County Magnet schools students might miss some familiar faces on August 26. In order to compensate for a high amount of debt, Harford County Public Schools have opted to make changes to their  transportation system.

    One way in which the school system has decided to cut down on transportation costs is the way in which high school magnet school students will get on and off the bus. Each student will have to find their own way to their home school in order to catch their bus. In the afternoon the students will be dropped off at their home school. They will then have to have a way of getting home. Harford technical has been excluded from these changes.  Many students and parents are outraged by this change. More than 40 parents and students of the 420 students  that will be affected showed up at the Board of Education meeting on July 29 in order to show their resentment of the changes.

    “ If North Harford wasn’t my home school, I don’t think I could stay in the Ag program because of the bus changes. It’s ridiculous,” stated junior, Robert Burton.

    Another way in which costs will diminish will be the time in which some Harford County elementary schools will start.. Four new elementary schools have been added to the 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule, including: Bakerfield, Red Pump, Bel Air and Forest Hill. This change will enable buses to service more schools will cut down the total number of buses which will diminish the cost altogether.

    In addition to magnet school stops and elementary time changes may students will have to walk to school this year. Waivers that allowed students within close proximity  of their school to  still ride the bus will be eliminated. Elementary school students that live in “concentrated areas” can walk to school within one mile and middle and high can walk to school within a one and a half mile radius.

   As a result of these transportation changes the Harford County Public School system is expected to save thousands of dollars for their budget.