N&R reports Guilford County Schools is considering cutting transportation to magnet schools:

The school system could save about $5.1 million by eliminating that transportation. The other options floated Tuesday, both of which involve parents shuttling students to the schools from regional hubs, would save about $1.4 million or $3.5 million.

The options, which seem unpopular with board members and parents alike, would affect about 63 percent of the students attending the programs.

Board member Nancy Routh said cutting the transportation would be a “disservice for a particular group of students.”

“We would not be offering equal opportunities to all students,” she said.

If the district can’t afford to transport all students, then it can’t afford the magnet programs, she said.

Makes you wonder what else GCS can’t afford that doesn’t allow for magnet school transportation. Note the wide range of comments comments beneath the N&R write-up; this will be a hot-button issue. Speaking for myself, we have two magnet schoolers here in the house and pass on the school bus because it comes down the street at an ungodly hour. We’re able to make parent transportation work, but certainly understand that it’s tough with the many two-income families in today’s economy.