ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Community School District Board approved the designation of a Safe Walk to School Zone, ending district-provided transportation for students residing east of South Maple Street, north of Panther Drive and west of Walnut Street to and from school.

District documents cite budget reductions for the change, dropping a pair of bus routes through the approval. Board President Julie Lundstrom said about 50 spots are reserved on each bus for students, whether they ride the bus every day or a handful of times each year.

“About 50 kids have a spot on the bus, whether or not they ride the bus or not,” Lundstrom said. “Effectively, it kind of eliminates two bus routes. It’s not two bus routes going around town in that area, but the number of kids.”

Lundstrom also mentioned district leaders had discussions with neighboring districts Prescott and Baldwin-Woodville, which follow the walk to school structure in their own districts. Criteria to be included in the zone includes falling within two miles of the school and having a safe path to the school including sidewalks.

“It’s a lot less [area] than the two miles,” Lundstrom said of the Ellsworth zone. “There’s districts that have a lot wider outline on that.”