Following a public hearing about potential changes to school bus routes, Bow school officials are looking to rework the proposal that may save money on the budget voted on at the School District Meeting.

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, close to 100 residents attended the meeting, which proposed the elimination of two buses and several bus stops, a plan that was set to save the district about $40,000.

However, some residents felt the plan was unsafe for students, some of whom would be forced to walk longer distances on potentially dangerous roads.

“One of the things about Bow is that there aren’t a whole lot of sidewalks,” said Superintendent of Schools Dean Cascadden. “At the end of the meeting, the board made a decision that we’re going to go back to the drawing board. We need to take a step back and take a look at this in light of the input.”

Originally, the plan was to have the proposal voted on at the School District Meeting as a warrant article, but Cascadden said the School Board can’t commit to that just yet.

“The outside timeline is that we have to finalize our budgetary proposal by Feb. 9,” said Cascadden. “That’s the money part of it. We wouldn’t be implementing any new routes until next fall anyway, so we’re well ahead in terms of time.”

Cascadden stressed that the decision to rework the bus routes is not solely for financial reasons. Several residents voiced concern that the move would jeopardize the safety of children for only $40,000.

Currently there are 16 regular buses, 12 that go to Bow Elementary and Bow Memorial schools, two to the high school, and two that transport students to special education and vocational school venues.

“The genesis wasn’t let’s look to see how we can save money,” said Cascadden. “It was looking to see how we could make the system more equitable.”

School Board members will continue to discuss the issue, without a definite timeline.

“We aren’t ready to go forward with it as we had it,” said Cascadden. “I continue to see this as an issue to be discussed, but I can’t give a definitive what we’re going to do. We need to deal with the issues, and possibly come up with a new proposal.”