The Martin County School Board voted to cut three bus routes as students returned to class Monday, a move the district expects will save $255,000 annually. The district is reducing its bus routes from 58 to 55, consolidating underused routes serving the same areas.
Superintendent Michael Maine said the district is not eliminating any stops and all buses will continue to operate within legal capacity limits. Maine said the district is combining routes that previously carried 16 or 20 students on 77-passenger buses. Some routes may take longer, but drivers will be paid for any additional time they work. All buses in the district have seatbelts, and students must be buckled up depending on age.
Some employees have raised concerns about increased crowding on buses. Maine said none of the buses will exceed capacity and the district must follow state laws on bus capacity. While bus stops are not changing, some students may see a different bus number this year.
Maine said families should expect the usual first-week delays as drivers settle into new routes. Parents can check bus assignments in the focus parent portal or track buses in real time using the MyReaxium app.