JAY – The school superintendent plans to discuss a proposal with the School Committee Thursday to switch to a single-bus run for students after Thanksgiving.
Superintendent Robert Wall said they’ll seek guidance from the board on how to proceed with the proposal, which could conserve fuel and help the school system deal with the rising cost of fuel.
Just as everyone has felt the impact of fuel costs, the school is no different, Wall said Thursday.
It cost $250 a day for fuel for the buses, Wall said Thursday.
The meeting is at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at the middle school.
A single run would mean that all students – grades kindergarten through 12 – would ride the same bus along a route.
It also means the elementary-school students would be picked up earlier to start school earlier. The school day for students in grades kindergarten through four would be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. like the upper grades, rather than 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students arrive at school and have breakfast at 8:45 a.m.
Wall said if the board gives the approval to collect more information on the proposal, a public meeting would be held and board members would decide at their Nov. 3 meeting if they want to switch to the single-bus run.
Neighboring SAD 36 in Livermore and Livermore Falls went to a single-bus run after Thanksgiving last year and saved more than $30,000, SAD 36 Superintendent Terry Despres said last month.
Despres expects the district to save more than $40,000 this school year because of the high cost of fuel.
Wall also said other proposals to conserve energy will be presented to the board Thursday.
The committee will also discuss setting up a meeting with SAD 36 directors on middle school accommodations. Wall has asked SAD 36 whether it wants to send its middle school students to the Jay Middle School in the future.
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