Chelsea School District cuts number of bus stops to save money

Outside the city, parents of students will be expected to drive their children to the nearest hub near the entrance to subdivisions or at the ends of main roads, where they can catch the bus.

“Parents are being notified that if they want their child to ride the bus, this is where they have to come,” said Frayer, adding that busing is not required by state law. “It’s only required for special education busing,” she said, which is being handled by a cooperative arrangement among Dexter, Manchester and Chelsea.

The new plan eliminates the need for the bus driver to drive down long roads to pick up students, district officials said. Frayer said that one family had a student picked up at the end of a private road ¾ miles long last year. This year, that family will have to drive up to two miles to the nearest bus stop.

Superintendent David Killips said that just the elimination of stops has saved the Chelsea school district about $45,000.

“We’ve eliminated about three regular bus routes,” said Killips, noting that though bus stops have been eliminated, no drivers are being laid off.

Three bus drivers had been laid off, but have since been recalled due to the retirement of other bus drivers. Other drivers are currently being hired from the substitute list.

The bus drivers also took concessions to help the district save money, said Killips.

Drivers accepted a 7 percent pay cut and accepted a new health-care plan, he said.

In a further cost-saving effort, Chelsea is working with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to save money on repairs, supplies and fuel.

“Filters, tires and fuel will be bought through the consortium,” said Killips. “Just about anything you can think of, we looked at to see if it would be a cost saving.”