Andrew Gillespie, 8, was looking forward to riding his school bus. But since Monday, his father, Andy says there's been confusion and problems.
"Administrators told us one thing last week and then on the second day of school something totally different," said Gillespie. "we waited for the bus out here for over an hour and it never did show up."
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Gillespie and other parents were notified the new bus route would take up to 50 minutes to get their children home. Budget cuts have forced administrators in Franklin Township to cut 15 bus routes and consolidate rides.
"These cuts are just the first of those to come. The worst case scenario there might not be transportation." School Superintendent Dr. Wally Bourke may be slightly exaggerating. But he does predict more problems if the district can't come up with funding to cover a 30-percent budget cut. Dr. Bourke says the cuts come from the property tax caps. Because of them he'll ask Franklin township residents to cover the deficit by voting for a 1-percent tax referendum or tax hike November 3rd. If voters don't approve it Bourke has dire predictions.
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"Without specifying what the cuts will be or how bad they'll be, they will be serious. And they will change transportation from what this community expects it to be," said Dr. Bourke.
"I think they need to sharpen their pencils and re-do the budget," said Laurie Gillespie."outfitting South Creek a newer school with new TVs? I think they can buy another bus."
Dr. Rourke says Beech Grove is considering a similar tax referendum in November. He says districts across central Indiana will be facing similar problems in the months and years to come.
"Administrators told us one thing last week and then on the second day of school something totally different," said Gillespie. "we waited for the bus out here for over an hour and it never did show up."
More: Education News
Gillespie and other parents were notified the new bus route would take up to 50 minutes to get their children home. Budget cuts have forced administrators in Franklin Township to cut 15 bus routes and consolidate rides.
"These cuts are just the first of those to come. The worst case scenario there might not be transportation." School Superintendent Dr. Wally Bourke may be slightly exaggerating. But he does predict more problems if the district can't come up with funding to cover a 30-percent budget cut. Dr. Bourke says the cuts come from the property tax caps. Because of them he'll ask Franklin township residents to cover the deficit by voting for a 1-percent tax referendum or tax hike November 3rd. If voters don't approve it Bourke has dire predictions.
Photos of the Day
"Without specifying what the cuts will be or how bad they'll be, they will be serious. And they will change transportation from what this community expects it to be," said Dr. Bourke.
"I think they need to sharpen their pencils and re-do the budget," said Laurie Gillespie."outfitting South Creek a newer school with new TVs? I think they can buy another bus."
Dr. Rourke says Beech Grove is considering a similar tax referendum in November. He says districts across central Indiana will be facing similar problems in the months and years to come.
