Thousands of students in Howard County are getting their school buses back after the district cut bus service for about 3,500 children ahead of the 2023-2024 school year.

One year ago, FOX45 News first began telling the stories of the families who demanded the school system restore bus service, and their concerns were heard.

“Is it satisfying to know that the school does appear to be listening to you?” Howard County parent Amber Sam Chee was asked.

“For sure,” she replied.

“I’m just happy that we got heard,” added her husband, Mark Sam Chee.

Back in June 2023, FOX45 News spoke with several Howard County families, who said their primary concern was safety.

In an effort to ensure the “efficient use of transportation,” the Howard County Board of Education had voted to cut bus service for about 3,500 students by expanding the distance students must live from school in order to qualify for a bus. The distance for pre-K students went from .5 miles to 1 mile. The distance for sixth through 12th-grade students also expanded by half a mile.

The district said the cuts in bus service were needed after school start times were changed. But that meant some five-year-olds were expected to walk a mile to school.

“We timed it. It’s 30 minutes each way,” Lindi Mueller, a Howard County parent, told FOX45 News in 2023.

Much of the route had no sidewalks, with steep hills and sharp turns, where oncoming traffic was hard to see.

Many communities in Howard County were outraged. They spoke at board meetings, organized online petitions and even marched in parades demanding bus service be restored. After their stories were told, some families, like the Sam Chees, did get their buses back. But most of the 3,500 students did not.

Now it appears many of the buses are coming back. Last month, during its June meeting, the Howard County Board of Education voted to restore bus service.

“I want students to be walking less,” said student Board Member Lamia Ayaz during the meeting.

“When we changed the distances, it really impacted families who cannot afford transportation and don’t have a car,” said Board Member Linfeng Chen.

In a unanimous decision, the board decreased the distance students must live from school to qualify for bus service. The distance for elementary school students went from one mile to .75 miles. Middle schoolers went from 1.5 miles to one mile. And the distance for high school students also dropped half a mile to 1.5 miles. And these distances will be measured property line to property line.

The board celebrated its decision.

“We know this reflects what this board wants and what this community wants,” Board Chair Jennifer Swickard Mallo said during the meeting.

The revised distances will take effect in the fall of 2025. So, for this coming school year, the students who lost their bus still will not have one. But they should next year.

“It’s nice that they’ve taken the time to really see the impacts and understand the community concerns and make some changes,” Amber Sam Chee said.

Howard County Schools estimates 11 extra buses will be needed to accommodate the additional students who will no longer be considered walkers. The district plans to contract for those buses in the coming months. By the summer of next year, the new bus routes should be finalized.

“I hope it all turns out well,” said Mark Sam Chee. “The convenience of the original bus route coming back, I think would benefit all of us.”