The Star Press file photo
The Star Press file photo
MUNCIE — Muncie Community Schools will have to wait longer to end bus service.

Chief Financial Officer Mark Burkhart said the district had been under the impression that the “three-year clock” started when the waiver petition was submitted back in June. Turns out that wasn’t the case.

“We have now found out it does not start until the board specifically passes a resolution to officially start the clock,” he said.

Board members will be asked to do that at the Feb. 11 meeting, which means that instead of ending service in 2016, the district must wait until the end of the school year in 2017.

MCS applied for a waiver to forgo the mandatory three-year waiting period required to end student bus service but was denied.

District officials say they can’t afford to fund busing because of a drastic cut — 89 percent — to the district’s transportation fund due to protected taxes legislation. The district also attempted a referendum to pay for the buses through a property tax increase, which was voted down last November.
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