Citing safety concerns for its winter sports athletes, the Monroe Local Schools board of education voted to reinstate two-way busing of its student athletes for the winter sports season.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Phil Cagwin asked the board of education to consider reinstating two-way transportation for winter sports athletes due to the district’s concerns over potentially hazardous winter road conditions. The cost savings of one-way transportation for wrestling and basketball in the winter would have been $3,522.65, according to the district’s transportation and treasurer’s offices.

The board implemented one-way busing as a cost-saving strategy during the fall season for soccer, volleyball and golf.

“The board wrestled with this decision for a good deal of time. They were concerned that by reinstating this one item, other requests would soon follow,” Cagwin said.

The board voted 4-1 vote to reinstate the two-way busing for athletic contests during the winter. They also asked Cagwin to fund the additional cost through other possible reductions. Cagwin is expected to share that plan with the board members at the Dec. 17 board meeting.

“I supported the idea, but I just wanted the opportunity to discuss more about how it would be paid for. I stand by the board’s decision and agree that our students’ safety should be a priority,” board president Brett Guido said of his vote against the measure.

“I was excited to hear the news,” said Ethan Jeffers a Monroe sophomore who was on the high school boys soccer team in the fall. “We missed a lot by not having busing after the games. That was the time when we’d celebrate the win, or we’d be able to get together and reflect on what happened after a loss. … And that final game, we didn’t get to spend much time with the seniors after their last game. That wasn’t fair to them.”

Jeffers said his parents often would need to arrange permission slips in order for other players on the team to be able to get rides home with them.

“There were times when parents couldn’t make it to the games, and it was a hassle to arrange the permission slips and everything. I’m glad that is over with,” he said.

Boys basketball coach Casey Popplewell said he was relieved for the winter sports athletes and their families.

“I couldn’t imagine a parent waiting for their kids to return from a long snowy ride from Eaton or say, Brookville,” Popplewell said. “At least with busing, the coach feels a little better because he knows he has all the kids together in a situation like that.”

There hasn’t been a decision on whether to offer two-way busing in the spring, Cagwin said.