LIVERMORE FALLS – There wasn’t much that parents liked Thursday night about the one-run bus schedule that will go into effect in SAD 36 when the school year begins later this month.

About 45 attended the hearing, which lasted more than two hours as several parents questioned the district’s reasoning, the potential savings and even the sincerity of the board and administration.

In response to the concerns, Superintendent Terry Despres promised a follow-up meeting, which was set for the board’s meeting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Even though the new system will include a monitor on each bus, many parents did not see that as an advantage, and wanted their small children to be bused separately from the older students.

Many were prepared with lists of questions. Most complaints focused on students of all ages being on the same bus, and the earlier starting hour and dismissal times for elementary students.

Transportation supervisor David Brackett explained that 10 of the 12 buses will begin their pickups at 7:15 a.m., while two will need to start earlier, at 7. He added that 20 percent of students will have the same or a slightly longer ride, while the remainder will have a shorter bus run due to the changes. The average ride will be 45 minutes, he said.

Parents also questioned why they were not involved in the decision, one suggesting that a survey should have been taken, while others maintained they had known nothing about the proposal despite several news items on it.

“I’ve had about a hundred calls, about 95 percent of them at my home,” reported Brackett, who said he had been working on the schedule five weeks straight.

Brackett, Despres and board Chairman Denise Rodzen all defended the district’s students after some parents alleged that high schoolers would be swearing and having unsavory conversations, which elementary youngsters should not hear.

Elementary Principal Terrie Roberts brought the all-ages controversy into context by noting that even elementary children swear and that kids are mean to each other. Whether mixing the ages together will be a problem won’t be known until the plan is implemented.

“We’re concerned about the kids; they’re our babies, too,” she said.

After working with the administrative team Thursday, Despres said they had decided on a one-warning policy on bus misconduct. After the first instance of misconduct, a student will receive a warning and a parent will be contacted. The second violation will mean, “You’re out,” he said.