At Public Hearing, Muncie Can Weigh In On School District’s Move To Cut Busing

Kyle Stokes / StateImpact Indiana (File)

A bus driver waits to pick up students from an elementary school outside Fortville.

State education officials have set a date for a public hearing at which they’ll consider whether to allow Muncie Community Schools officials to go forward with a move to eliminate the district’s busing services.

The hearing will take place on Dec. 9 at Northside Middle School, starting at 5 p.m.

Muncie school officials say the voters’ recent rejection of a referendum means they cannot afford to wait the state-mandated three years before cutting busing, which costs the district more than $3 million per year.

They’ve asked for a waiver from that requirement — that’s what state officials will be considering at the hearing.

As we’ve reported, should state officials turn down the request, Muncie Community Schools buses would have to stay on the road — and the district would have to pay for them — for at least the next two years.