This year, many Harford County students’ bus routes have been completely redesigned. While many students are having to adjust to the changes, high schoolers involved in magnet programs outside of their district are experiencing the brunt of this latest development.

Harford County Public Schools issued a press release this past June clarifying the changes for the 2013-14 school year. Included was the new fourth tier schedule for a few elementary schools, fewer bus stops for many routes, and bus depots for the magnet students, including the ones who attend NH’s magnet program.

Why all the changes?  According to the HCPS press release, “…buses will be able to service more schools, thereby decreasing the number of total buses necessary and eliminating costs associated with the extra buses, such as fuel, maintenance and personnel costs.”

However, most students who have been severely affected by these changes are not worried about all the money the schools are saving.  What they are concerned about is how these reforms have inconvenienced their families.

“My parents don’t like all these changes because they have to drop me off at Fallston High every morning before 6:30, and pick me up every afternoon,” said sophomore Olivia Ebey.

Others cannot rely on their parents for transportation to the depots, because of their work schedules.

“My parents work, so after I get dropped off at my home high school, I either find a ride or walk up Thomas Run Road, and down Prospect Mill,” said freshman, Madeline Ward. “It’s a two-mile walk, and there aren’t any sidewalks, but I don’t really have a choice.”

Also on the chopping block this year was the amount of bus stops. Harford County is legally able to make students walk up to a mile to school or their bus stop. This enabled school officials to combine bus stops so that they could save time and money. Some bus drivers, such as Denise Kugler, fought for their kids, earning at least one more stop so that they didn’t have to walk half a mile every morning and afternoon.

“I did everything I could, because I knew these kids would never make it to their stop on time- they barely made it last year,” laughed Kugler.

A change with little impact on North Harford is the new fourth tier schedule for Bakerfield, Red Pump, Bel Air, and Forest Lakes Elementary Schools. the school day at these locations now starts at 9:30am, and students will be dismissed at 4:00pm.

    All of these changes are appropriate from the perspective of the Harford County Board of Education.  Thousands and thousands of dollars are being saved, and that’s what matters, right?

Wrong.

The fact is that some of these changes are excessive and unnecessary. Students are walking miles to get home after an eight-hour day of school. Their parents are chauffeuring them to and from the bus depots. Is the $890,000 that has been saved worth risking the safety of students countywide? Is it worth it to lose the support of parents? Probably not.

     Next year the board should reconsider this decision, balancing budget cuts with what’s in the best interest of students and their families.