COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - The Collier County school district is making cuts.
Today, some district bus drivers and attendants who were told they no longer have a job.

Twenty school bus drivers and 25 attendants are now out of a job.

Fewer drivers means fewer routes and more kids on your child's bus.

When school starts next month, you will see 20 fewer school buses on the roads in Collier County.

After reviewing the efficiency and occupancy of bus routes, school district administrators decided 20 drivers and 25 bus attendants are no longer needed.

"Things can happen on a school bus, especially when you get a lot of kids on it and they don't have an attendant. I'd be concerned," first grade parent Karen Miller says.

District officials have assured us overcrowding won't be an issue, but Miller is still worried.

"I would be more inclined to drive my kid to school," Miller adds.

But other parents say they understand the district's decision.

"I know that there's some empty buses that show up at school, so maybe to consolidate would be a good way to save some money," Amy Angeles says.
The district won't only save money by cutting those salaries, they'll also save money in gas because 20 buses will be parked here for most of the year and only used for special occasions.

"You have to look at everything that could be cut and if there's some buses that aren't being utilized. I mean if there's a bus that has a full load of kids don't cut it, but if there's a bus that has two kids on it, I think that might be something to look at," Angeles adds.

Another group of Collier school employees worried about losing their jobs are custodians.

Administrators had asked to have those services out-sourced to a private company, but last month, the school board decided to put off that decision until more research can be done.

We asked if the decision to cut bus drivers and attendants had anything to do with this and we were told it did not.