A proposal to eliminate all bus transportation for Wareham High School students drew criticism from the School Committee and citizens Wednesday night.

The proposal, presented to the committee by Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood, was one of two options to save $163,000 next year and part of a larger budget-cutting package that would see the elimination of 31 teacher and staff positions.

In Shaver-Hood’s presentation of options to save the $163,000, needed to complete a “level-funded” budget, elimination of high school bus service was called “Option One.”

“Option Two” would achieve the same reduction of $163,000 through cuts in supplies, additional staffing cuts, and running “late buses” -- for students remaining after school for extra-curricular activities or other reasons -- only once a week.

“This is not a pleasant situation for any of us,” said Shaver-Hood.  “Our goal is to provide an education to our students.”

Understanding that students need to have transportation, Shaver-Hood said she and her staff are exploring unspecified alternative transportation.

“It’s a tough situation when you see families living in hotels and cannot get their kids to school,” said School Committee member Ken Fontes, a reference to homeless families who are placed by the state in Wareham motels. “We need to find a way to transport these kids to school.  I urge the committee in moving forward to give this some thought.”

“I can’t support Option One under any circumstances,” said a solemn Vice Chair Clifford Sylvia. “We have an obligation to get our kids to school.”

Member Geoffrey Swett agreed: “As bad as Option Two is, Option One is worse.”

School Committee Chair Rhonda Veugen said she could understand the hardship to parents, students and their safety, but in the same breath said Option Two is “real” and “devastating.”  She pointed to a possible Option Three, “How do we get more revenue into this town?”

Wareham has gotten to a point to where expenses needed to “maintain services this town needs” are exceeding “the funds to support those services,” she said.

Parents also voiced their concern about eliminating high school buses.

Chris Holbrook said the lack of busing might set students back academically.

Missy Decas begged the committee to retain high school busing.  “It scares me that you are taking away busing from this community,”  she said, noting that Wareham is a community of working-class single families.

“My fear as a taxpayer is we’re not making better citizens.  I know sometimes times are tough, but sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture,” said Decas.

“I don’t want to see more Wareham people leave Wareham,” said Jamie Pelletier.