The possible elimination of several school bus routes in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District has become a growing concern among parents in our community.
For many families, bus service is not a luxury. It is how students safely get to and from school. When routes are removed, the burden shifts directly onto parents and our already congested roadways.
Like many districts across California, FCUSD has faced challenges hiring and retaining bus drivers. Recruitment is influenced by more than just market conditions. Compensation, working conditions, and whether transportation staff feel valued as part of the school system all play a role when districts compete for qualified drivers.
Ultimately, the main argument for eliminating these routes comes down to money.
Like every public agency, the district must make choices about how limited resources are allocated. District information indicates the change would reduce general fund costs by approximately $104,000 to $120,000 after state transportation reimbursements and other offsets are applied.
In a district with a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars, the question for families is whether roughly $100,000 in savings is truly where transportation for students should be cut.
It is also important to acknowledge that districts must prioritize transportation for students with special needs. California law requires those services, and ensuring those students have safe and reasonable transportation times is the right priority.
But when those necessary adjustments lead to other routes being eliminated, families deserve a clear explanation of how those decisions were made and whether other options were considered.
For many parents, particularly families living south of Highway 50, transportation is not just a convenience. It is a practical necessity for getting students safely to school while balancing work schedules and daily responsibilities.
District data indicates that approximately 190 students currently rely on these routes, including students traveling to Folsom High School and Sutter Middle School.
When bus service disappears, the impact is felt immediately by those families.
The State of California does not mandate general school bus service. But that does not mean districts should treat transportation as optional. For many families, it is essential infrastructure that supports student safety, reduces traffic congestion, and helps ensure equitable access to education.
It also has a direct impact on traffic in our community. When bus routes disappear, more families are forced to drive their children to school. That means longer drop-off lines and more traffic on already busy streets.
For residents who experience the daily traffic impacts around our schools, this matters.
Reducing bus service does not solve transportation challenges. In many cases, it makes them worse.
This is why budget priorities matter. Every school district must make difficult financial decisions, but those decisions should reflect the needs of students and families first.
When families are already paying significant taxes to support public education, it is reasonable to ask whether student transportation should be one of the last things cut rather than one of the first.
School board members ultimately have the authority to set those priorities through the budgeting process. Parents who care about bus service should attend upcoming school board meetings and make their voices heard.
Ask the question directly:
Should reliable transportation for FCUSD students be a priority in the district’s budget?
If the answer is yes, the next question becomes:
What adjustments can be made elsewhere in the budget to preserve these routes?
Our community invests heavily in public education. Families deserve transparency about how those dollars are allocated and how decisions impact students.
That conversation deserves to happen openly, with families fully informed and involved.
Anna Rohrbough is the Vice Mayor of the City of Folsom.
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