MAYNARDVILLE, Tenn. — Union County Public Schools has seen an increase in student absenteeism after stopping bus service for the last eight days of the school year, according to a story on wbir.com.

As previously reported, the plan to shorten the service was on the table to help address a budget shortfall of about $200,000.  

The district suspended all of its school bus transportation except that for special-education and pre-kindergarten students.

Susan Oaks, supervisor of instruction for Union County Public Schools, said that the district usually has a student absentee rate of 5.5%, but on Tuesday, 18% were absent, wbir.com reports.  

In the wake of this news, the American School Bus Council (ASBC) said that the problems in Union County, Tenn., reaffirm the organization’s efforts to make student transportation available for every student.

“Only through working together as a community of school bus advocates can we hope to stop further cuts to school bus service and help students succeed,” ASBC said in a statement.

The organization urged officials in the pupil transportation community to use its resources to promote school bus ridership.

To read the full story on student absenteeism at Union County Public Schools, click here.