MEET THE BAUMANN SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
SCHOOLS
061303 Despite flier error, the basic busing facts remain the same
To the Editor:
I am chagrined to have to agree that there was an error, a computational error, in the CPSP (Citizens for Prudent School Planning) flier where it was said that double-tripping costs $7,500 for each high school student. The correct figure is $750. A zero was not punched into the hand calculator. That being said, the basic facts still remain. Reverting to the old busing schedule would result in saving nearly $1 million.
In speaking to Don Scott just yesterday, I urged him to make a significant reduction in the defeated budget and resubmit it as quickly as possible for voter approval. I told him I thought that the single largest chunk of money that could be saved without going into the dire elimination of a score or more teachers that the superintendent said was the inevitable consequence of reducing the budget, was by reverting to triple-tripping. I told Don, as I had told the entire board of education at the beginning of its budget process, that if I had a million dollars in hand I would certainly rather spend it on teachers rather than on bus drivers. Enduring any inconvenience that actually is caused by triple-tripping is far superior to taking actions that would have a grim, immediate impact on the kids in their classrooms.
If the board reverts to triple-tripping next year, or if it finds savings of roughly $1 million elsewhere in the budget, some of which, unfortunately, may have an impact on classrooms, I for one would support the revised budget.