My co-worker Danielle Portteus has this story for page 2A of today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News. An advance story also was in this week’s edition of Bedford Now.

BEDFORD TOWNSHIP — The Bedford Public Schools Board of Education approved a resolution changing the district’s bus routes for the upcoming school year.

The board approved consolidating bus stops in subdivisions — a move that is expected to save the district an estimated $25,000 to $35,000 for the year.

Dr. Ted Magrum, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, said the consolidated stops within subdivisions will save on fuel costs and wear on the buses.

During the July 31 committee of the whole meeting, Dr. Magrum said the district would be reducing stops by about 25 percent, but the safety of students was the most important consideration during the consolidation effort.

“If there was a choice between making a stop at a fourth-grader’s house and making a stop at a kindergartner’s house, we chose the kindergartner,” he said. “We know safety is a concern and parents will still see their children get on the bus.”

Robyn Seymour, transportation director, also spoke at the committee of the whole meeting, telling the board that stops along a lot of the main roads will remain house-to-house stops.

“We looked into the consolidation to see if it was safe on the main roads,” she said. “We visited the sites and determined where it would be safe to consolidate and where it wouldn’t be.”

Dr. Magrum said at the regular meeting Thursday night that consolidating stops will help the district lower its deficit.

“We are trying to look everywhere to cut out money,” Dr. Magrum said. “With fuel — especially diesel at $4 a gallon — we can’t do the door-to-door stops like we used to.”

He told the board that, under the new plan, the maximum walking distance in subdivisions with sidewalks is a quarter of a mile. In subdivisions without sidewalks, the maximum walking distance for students will be 500 feet.

Parents will be mailed letters beginning today notifying them of the changes.