And then there are the children who get sick or have personal accidents on the bus. Emily is 5 years old, a kindergarten student. She rides the bus for 55 minutes over mountain roads to get to school. Her mother can’t even feed her breakfast because Emily gets carsick.

Soon, many more of our smallest children will be subjected to these cruel conditions. The state plans to close an additional 121 elementary schools during the next five years. That will mean that thousands more of our young children will share the plight of Davy and Emily.*

Meantime, the West Virginia Department of Education is planning to implement an early childhood education program where 3- and 4-year-olds will enter the school system. Research shows such programs to be extremely beneficial to a child’s future. If small community schools close, how many parents do you suppose will put their toddlers on the long bus rides required for them to participate?

Legislation to stop further busing of our children is vital to their health and safety. Challenge West Virginia is working with Gov. Manchin on a bill to limit the amount of time students can spend on bus rides. The limits are: 30 minutes for elementary students, 45 minutes for middle school students and 60 minutes for high school students — the state’s current guidelines, which often aren’t followed.

The legislation is simple: Stop the harm and don’t create any new bus routes that force children on long bus rides. As for expense, the legislation has a grandfather clause to freeze previous consolidations and bus routes. It would not require purchasing additional buses or hiring additional drivers.

When this bill was introduced last year, Department of Education officials falsely claimed that it would cost $56 million. Now, they are threatening an $80 million fiscal tag. In fact, if we don’t stop busing, transportation costs will continue to soar. Between 1990 and 2000, the cost of busing students increased by 11 percent, even though school enrollments shrank.

After two decades of consolidation, fewer students are being bussed greater distances at higher costs to West Virginia taxpayers. For example, Mineral County closed three schools, lost 164 students, and increased transportation spending by 31 percent. Harrison County closed five schools, lost 875 students, and increased transportation spending by 26 percent.

West Virginia operates the most expensive transportation program in the country, based on cost per pupil and cost per mile. And keep in mind, salaries are not even included with the transportation costs.

Passing a busing bill will save our children and save us money. Who would oppose that?

Martin is a leader of Challenge West Virginia, which opposes many school consolidations.

* Davy and Emily are real. They live in two West Virginia counties that have been affected by school consolidation.