Carroll Co. Cuts Bus Drivers, Alters School Hours

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- The Carroll County Board of Education has passed a plan to save money by cutting bus drivers and changing school hours.

The plan was approved Wednesday and is expected to save the system at least $1.2 million for fiscal year 2013. It calls for eliminating as many as 40 contracted bus drivers. The remaining bus drivers would be expected to complete three bus routes each day.

Most bus drivers currently have two routes.

The plan also calls for adjusting school start and end times, some by more than 40 minutes. The new schedule would begin in fall 2012.

Assistant Superintendent of Administration Jonathan O'Neal said elementary schools are most impacted by the change, and that the new school hours are well within state norms.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)