news-record.com

GREENSBORO — After two days of school, the system’s massive bus stop consolidation efforts appear to have gone off without major problems.

The school board approved cutting 971 bus stops this year. The bus stop consolidation is one of several major budget cuts the board made because of a $20 million budget shortfall in state funding.

The consolidation means high school and middle school students are expected to walk up to a half-mile to reach a bus stop. Jeff Harris, the system’s transportation director, said most students will have to walk less than 530 yards.

Harris said the consolidation is an efficient money-saver.

“It is a positive step toward more efficient bus routes,” he said. “The negative would be the decrease in parental supervision at the bus stops.”

As of Tuesday, 60 appeals for changes to bus stops were filed.

The transportation department has gone through several rounds of bus stop consolidations in recent years, Harris said, but this round is far larger. The consolidation is meant to eliminate door-to-door stops, especially in densely populated neighborhoods and housing developments.

The consolidation cut 147 stops from Northwest High School’s district, the most from any attendance zone. Southern Middle had the most stops cut from any middle school district with 87 consolidated.

Harris said more bus stops were cut from some school districts compared to others because those attendance zones have denser neighborhoods and those attendance zones were not as deeply impacted by the previous consolidation efforts.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com