Rutherford County Schools looks at cutting bus routes

Stephanie Langston
·2 min read
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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Some students in Rutherford County could be forced to find a new way to school as the district considers cutting some bus routes.

Bus transportation would be eliminated to students whose homes are within one mile of the school if the Rutherford County School Board approves establishing a Parent Responsibility Zone (PRZ).

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“Almost everybody I’ve seen is against this,” said Erik Snyder, a father of four children in Rutherford County schools.

The bus picks up all of his daughters just a couple of doors down from their home.

“They have to ride the bus because it interferes with my work schedule,” he said.

He is among a number of parents that cite a list of concerns with the proposal.

“Abduction is one of my really top concerns, because it can happen in an instant,” Snyder explained.

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Additional worries include pedestrian safety with the lack of sidewalks in some of the more rural areas of the county, the headache of added traffic congestion, and the dangers of a child crossing it.

“I’m also concerned about some of the younger kids, elementary school kids,” Snyder said.

Social media posts from concerned parents indicate the timing is also short notice.

The debate was addressed at the Board of Education’s Work Session on Tuesday night. The COO of the Engineering and Construction Department, Trey Lee, pointed to growth across the county as one of the ideas behind it. Leaders claim attendance at schools is up and traffic congestion is prolonging bus routes, adding there is also a shortage of drivers.

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Lee said there are already plans for a dozen new routes to be added next year. He also said a PRZ would save around $715,000 compared to their current budget.

“With all the safety considerations, I hope this doesn’t pass. I hope they wouldn’t put children at risk like this,” said Snyder.

The proposal would not apply to Title 1 schools. The director of Rutherford County Schools said they are one of a few counties across the state that don’t already have a PRZ in place. Parents plan to voice their opinions at the school board meeting that will be held Thursday, April 18.

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