By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter
MAYNARDVILLE (WATE) - Union County parents are on edge about bus service being cut just before the end of the school year.
If the school board cannot come up with a plan, parents will have to figure how to pick up and drop off their kids from May 16th until May 26th, the last day of the school year.
It all started last fall, when the school board was in a major budget crisis. Among other cuts, they decided to eliminate bus service for the last eight days of the school year. The move was expected to save them $50,000 in the budget.
"I may have to leave work early, make arrangements for that, or see if someone who is not working can pick them up for me," said Tammy Anderson, one among many parents who says she'll be rearranging her schedule and calling in favors if the board can't come up with a solution.
"I think a lot of parents may keep kids at home," Anderson said.
At a meeting Thursday night, board members said they understood what a major inconvenience this could be, but they don't have many alternatives. Their only hope is asking the county commission for some cash, but even that is a delicate matter.
"We don't want county commission to feel like we're putting them in a corner by saying if you don't do this, we'll do this. This is our responsibility," explained temporary Director of Schools, Jimmy Carter.
"I hope county commission gives them the money, just for all the parents who depend on bus transport," Anderson said.
Union County commissioners will be meeting on May 14th. If they decide not help out the schools, bus service will end starting May 16th.
