'Walking bus' makes its debut

CINCINNATI - As a principal, what do you do when some of your students lose bus privileges because of budget cuts? Create a "walking bus." And that's exactly what began Wednesday for some of the kids in the Cincinnati Public School system.

Recent CPS cutbacks mean that children living over a mile from their school are now excluded from bussing, when before it was limited to 3/4 mile. South Avondale Elementary Principal Yzvetta Macon says officials were already looking to start the Safe Routes to School program, then the bussing issues made their decision even easier.

Safe Routes works by using parent volunteers to walk with a group of children, making sure they stay safe. "A lot of our kids, because it is dark when they come out (in the morning), they do not have people to walk with them to ensure their safety," said Principal Macon. "So we just wanted to make sure we're going to be proactive and providing that safety net for them."

Macon hopes the program will improve attendance and tardiness. She says she also hopes more children will now be able to take advantage of the before school breakfast program, which will help overall achievement.