Possible Elementary School Busing Cutbacks Discussed at Selectmen Meeting

Wrentham Elementary Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden spoke to the town Board of Selectmen Tuesday night about numerous new developments in the district, including a possible cutback on busing.

Marsden said the district is facing a $489,000 budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year, and has begun looking at multiple areas for cuts.

"As you know, we've cut 30 positions in the last four years," he said. "One of the major expenses we have is transportation."

He said the district is only required to bus students who live more than two miles away from the school. As such, if the schools only did the busing it was legally required to do, they could reduce six buses.

Marsden said the town had always provided transportation to all its students, but it is facing a budget impasse.

"I think we've gotten to the point where, in order to continue doing business, we can't keep cutting people," he said.

Marsden spoke about the option at the last Elementary School Committee meeting as one of several scenarios that could bridge the district's gap. The scenario, he said, would still eliminate three teaching positions and one custodian.

At Tuesday's meeting, Marsden also updated the selectmen on several school initiatives, including a "Read Across Wrentham" program and an effort to standardize curricula with Plainville and Norfolk.

Selectman Joseph Botaish praised the work done by the town's schools.

"I've had two kids go through Wrentham Elementary," he said. "I congratulate the Wrentham Public Schools and the King Philip school system for turning out a good product."