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RALEIGH -- The Wake County Board of Education could change its busing system next year, which would impact the time students start and end school. The proposal could save the Wake County Public School System up to $10 million .

Currently, drivers make six trips to schools a day. Next year, the school board is proposing drivers make four trips, two drop offs and two pick ups.

"There would be more time during that bus run that will allow more stops to be covered, more children will be able to ride that bus and that will provide greater efficiency," said Greg Thomas, spokesman for the Wake County Public School System.

Under the proposal, the district would save $6 million by reducing the bus fleet by 112 buses. School leaders hope to avoid laying off bus drivers through attrition and eliminating vacant positions. They say it's too early to tell if positions would have to be cut, but bus driver Wanda Patterson is worried.

"We all love our jobs driving kids back and forth to school," said Patterson, who has been a bus driver for eight years. "This is our livelihood, this is where we work. We're already not getting any raises so this is what we're depending on right now.”

The proposal would also change the time students start and end school. Under the proposal, bell times at 127 of the 169 schools in the district would change no more than 10 minutes. However, bell times at 18 schools would change by over 50 minutes.

Patterson feels the change could get some students home too late.

"You're riding the bus, you're restless, you're tired and with the daylight savings, it's dark. Who wants their elementary child coming home that late in the afternoon" said Patterson.

Parents have mixed feelings.

"We would have to make arrangements to either come in late or leave earlier to get her from school," said Michael Cook, who drives his daughter to and from school each day.

The current busing system has been in place for nearly two decades.

The school board plans to discuss the bus system proposal at a meeting on Feb. 21 and vote on the bus proposal by the end of March.

To find out how the bell schedule would change at your child's school or to take the school district's online survey about the proposal, click here.