ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The City of St. Charles School District will be making changes to the school bus service it provides for students during the 2010-11 school year.

In the past, the district has provided bus service to all students who live at least one mile from their respective schools. This will remain unchanged for elementary school students. For intermediate, middle and high school students, however, service will only be provided if they live more than 1.5 miles from their respective schools.

School districts across the state recently learned of significant reductions in state funding for bus transportation. Funding was cut by approximately 50 percent, resulting in a loss of approximately $400,000 for the City of St. Charles School District.

“We had already made significant reductions to the 2010-11 budget, and we were expecting to make additional reductions in the future," Superintendent Randal Charles said. "We were, however, a little surprised at the amount of the recent reduction in transportation funding.”

The changes to bus service made by the district are estimated to reduce transportation costs by about $325,000. Charles noted that additional changes may be necessary for the 2011-12 school year if state funding is not restored.

The district plans to notify parents of the change in bus service through letters, automated phone messages and an announcement on its Website.