CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) -- The Sweetwater Union High School District is tightening its belt on the budget.
On the table is a plan to not replace dozens of positions and cut bus routes. Critics say the move could leave hundreds of students without a ride to school.
The board meets Tuesday night to finalize the plan to save money. One of the biggest moves on the table is not replacing some 80 positions within the district.
Positions on the chopping block include assistant superintendent positions and nine bus drivers.
No one within the district will be at risk of losing their jobs. Instead, the positions won’t be replaced after employees retire.
Roughly 300 employees already chose to take an early retirement. The district also plans to eliminate 30 bus routes next school year that will save half a million dollars per year.
Four of the districts 13 high schools will be affected by the route cuts. Several parents say they were blindsided by the news.
"Out here we have year round schooling, so schools going to be starting for us in July. That’s just a couple months to figure out for parents that are working how they're going to change their schedules and if they can't then these kids are left to fend for themselves,” said Sara McIntosh.
The district says Sweetwater is one of a few districts that still offers bus service. Many districts cut it years ago when the state stopped requiring it.
It’s only required by law for special ed students.
