NORFOLK - School committee members are considering additional options to compensate for loss of funding if residents vote against a $414,910 Proposition 2 1/2 override at a special election June 24.

Failure of the override would force $290,000 in cuts to the school budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, including the library and Spanish programs. The school committee is considering imposing bus fees to make up a portion of the difference.

"If you generate a minimum bus fee of $110,000, that would save the library program," Superintendent Chris Augusta-Scott said.

The current cost for bus service is $410,000, of which 75 percent is not state funded or reimbursed, school committee member Dean Manning said.

By cutting the bus program, the district would reclaim $307,000. The district is not legally required to provide bus services to children who live within two miles of school. "If you live within two miles, potentially you won't have a bus," Manning said.

The other option is to impose a fee for bus service on residents within two miles. The fee would depend on the number of families using the service - falling anywhere from $200 to $600.

A fee was considered last year for this school year but those plans were dropped in the face of strong parent opposition.

The school committee will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Freeman-Centennial auditorium to present options and get feedback.