Work furloughs for school bus drivers in the San Diego Unified School District began Wednesday but service to students was on a normal schedule according to the district’s website.
Gene Robinson of the Transportation Services Department for the San Diego Unified School District said Wednesday is the first of three furlough days approved by the district as a result of budget cuts.
The district informed parents service was on a normal schedule despite 20 routes running between 30 minutes to an hour late. Those delays were caused by sick calls.
At Tuesday night's board meeting, an amendment was approved allowing more flexibility in furlough days. All staffers have been taking furlough days as a result of budget reductions, according to the district's statement.
More than $100 million has been cut from the school budget for next year and the district is struggling to come to an agreement on what’s being described as a "doomsday budget".
That projection was based on the district's hope that a measure for a tax extension would be put on the ballot. So far that has not happened. The district has cut $400 million in the last four years.
