Around 96 Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School students will lose their bus service for this coming school year, the State Department of Education announced on Saturday. Statewide, around 2,400 students will no longer have access to school bus service. East Hawaii will have no cuts in bus service.
The neighborhoods affected include Waikoloa Gardens, Paniolo Greens, Makana Kai, Waikoloa Hills, Mahina, Ua-Noe, Auhili Lp., Kauhiwai, which currently have 45 students who use the school bus. The Department says 51 students from LuaKula, Laie, AkaUla, Hulu, KilaKila will also lose service.
The State Department of Education says they’re short around $17 million to be able to fully fund student transportation. With school starting in about a month, parents of the affected students now have to figure out an alternative plan. Statewide, 103 routes affecting 51 schools are being eliminated.
The State Department of Education says they may face the problem again next school year and have to make additional cuts. The current cuts leave some Oahu schools in even worse shape—Mililani will have more than 800 students suddenly without bus service. But on Oahu, students also have the option of public transportation or may be able to walk to other bus routes not affected.
The State Department of Education web site has more: http://doe.k12.hi.us/bus/index.htm
