DIXON, Calif. (June 27, 2008) — In an attempt to shore up finances, a community outside of California’s capital will cut transportation this fall for all students except those special needs students guarantied transportation under federal law.

Roger A. Halberg, superintendent of the school located 20 miles outside of  Sacramento, estimates the school district will save approximately $450,000 this coming school year by eliminating the service that transported 250 students from the 4,000-student district to and from school each day last year.

The shift may cause problems for some of the poorest students in the school system. According to Aurelio Haro, program coordinator for the county office of education’s migrant education division, 63 children live in a migrant camp some 7 miles from the school. Earlier this month, migrant families said they barely have the means to pay for transportation to and from work let alone to and from their children’s schools.

Like many districts, Dixon suffers from shrinking state education funds and soaring fuel prices. But the district is also one of at least 10 in California with a negative certification, meaning it is not able to pay all of its bills. In order to bring the district out of its financial hole in the next three years, the school board trimmed $2 million out of a $28 million budget this coming year by consolidating schools, cutting sports programs, staff positions and hours. Next school year, the district is expected to cut another $1 million followed by $800,000 in 2010-2011.

Halberg added the school district, county and city may be able to salvage the service as in-town public transportation options exist. The three groups are scheduled to meet again next month.