Some students don?t stick around for theater or baseball practice for fear of being stranded at school or having to walk the dark paths home, students and activists said.
“Some students who need or want these activities can?t participate,” said Kiara James, a freshman at Atholton High School who spoke at a meeting for People Acting Together in Howard.
PATH, an activist group of mainly religious organizations, proposed providing activity buses to take students from school to a bus stop or other location near their houses after evening activities, she said.
Activity buses would mean more students could participate in these programs, James told a crowd of about 250 at Sunday night?s meeting, during which the group outlined advocacy issues.
Some students rely on Howard Transit, the public bus system, but the buses aren?t always reliable, said Francisco Davis, an Oakland Mills student who spoke at the meeting.
Transportation is a major issue for Howard?s youth, said Hector Rodriguez, lead organizer for PATH, which asked the school system to commit funding for the activity buses.
Securing the buses could be tough, however, as Howard faces tight budget times, officials said.
“I can?t pledge to embrace the idea, but I will work with the school system” to determine the cost, County Executive Ken Ulman told PATH members.
Cost is perhaps the greatest challenge, but school officials have “no idea” what the proposal would cost, said Roger Plunkett, business, community and government relations officer for Howard?s public schools. Much of the cost would depend on how many schools request buses.
PATH would need to submit a budget request to school officials, Plunkett said.
