By Stacy Thacker, University of Montana

For many students living on reservations, getting to school is a challenge in itself. Bus runs on Indian Country, in particular the larger reservations or lands located in rural areas, can be a very significant commute. It’s almost impossible to live in some reservations without a vehicle, which most families don't have. This makes it even tougher if families have to drive kids to school.

While I was in school, I had a 15-minute commute, almost entirely open road. Although it felt like an eternity I knew other students who had to travel farther. I didn't even live near a dirt road but I had friends who did and during the winter months, when the snow melted, they had so much trouble getting out into the world.

These problems of roads and lack of vehicles become everyday things and are very well accepted throughout Indian Country. But, with school districts nationwide facing budget woes, it seems Native communities could see an even tougher obstacle in school transportation.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, California state budget cuts are expected to force districts to cut out transportation costs from their budgets altogether. For a group of Native students living in Furnance Creek, an Indian village in Death Valley, this could mean no more school or no more home. Its a two hour drive round trip and without the buses many will have no choice but to stay home or move away and attend boarding school.

However boarding school for a lot of Natives still leaves a bad taste in their mouths. For some, it’s the last place they want to put their child. It would be a hard situation for the students as well, having to make a then a dramatic change to leave home for a dorm.

I'm 22 years old and moved to Montana from New Mexico for school and it’s still a challenge for me being away from home, I can't imagine what it would feel like for a youngster.

A lot of California schools have already canceled sports programs or altered the schedules to make them more wallet-friendly.

In any case, for the most underserved students in the state, this might be time for a real Magic School Bus.

Stacy Thacker (Navajo) is from Navajo, N.M.