School Bus Safety Task Force Hears Call For More Funding

A lack of funding for school transportation is putting more children in peril on their way to and from school, so says the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s man on transportation issues. Tom Quinn has told the Governor’s Task Force on School Bus Safety that schools are getting only about 80 percent of what they consider full funding when it comes to buses. He says if schools get less state money for transportation, they have to make cuts in that area. And, Quinn says if students have to walk or ride in a passenger car, they are much more likely to be injured or even killed on their way to and from school. He also asks the panel to recommend against lap belts in school buses. He says they actual cause more injuries and deaths – at least on buses.