All along Grant Road, Cy Creek students have been finding their own way to school this year as several have been displaced from their bus routes due to district-wide budget cuts.

Under the new superintendent, Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD is focused on fighting its $138 million deficit through many ways. The most striking of which has been cutting a total 79 bus routes, all within a 2 mile radius of high schools, with elementary and middle schools having their buses cut completely.

According to senior Manuel Gomez, a large number of students have trouble getting to their first period by 7:15 am due to the increase in car traffic. Just last Thursday, a car collided with bus 1106 on the way to Creek.

“Most consequences [of the cuts] usually come in the form of reckless drivers and road rage, and the traffic of what it would be on a regular day with everyone having a bus,” Gomez said.

For Gomez, getting to school is a workout.

“I did ride a bus last year, unless it was raining which my parents took me. So now ever since the new bus changes I ride my bike,” Gomez said.

On the other hand, even those who still have a bus, such as senior Karsen Kelly, understand how the bus changes can be dangerous to the CFISD community.

“The bus changes are very dangerous in some cases, such as having kids walk across busy roads or making journeys through the bad weather,” Kelly said. “[And] the littles who are in elementary school or middle school might get lost.”

However, some students like freshman Deija Williams see the benefit of choosing their own transportation close to the school.

“It is easier for me because I don’t have to rush myself out of the house to get to the bus stop at a certain time,” Williams said.

As for late buses, the school has planned to use its Title I funding on supplying transportation after-school for Tuesdays and Thursdays. As of the time of publication, the estimated date for running late buses is September 23.