A proposal to amend transportation eligibility requirements could drastically change the way thousands of students get to and from school in one Suffolk County school district.

Last night, the Sachem Board of Education debated a potential proposition question that would increase the minimum distance families can live from a school to get busing from half a mile to 1 mile for kids in schools K-8 and from half a mile to 1.5 miles for 9-12.

Many parents were not happy.

"The walk is dangerous for kids," Sachem school parent Vandessa Amdaluz said. "It's impossible."

According to board members, this would increase the number of kids who would not qualify from 630 to 2,800. That would mean a quarter of the roughly 11,500 students enrolled in Sachem schools would have to find alternative ways to get to class, according to data from the state Education Department.

If approved, the plan would save the district $1.75 million.

"We can't afford this," Sachem Board of Education Trustee Stephanie Volpe said. "That's the bottom line. I fully understand it's going to stink."

Some board members said the district was forced to seek alternative places to cut spending for next year after it agreed not to close Merrimac Elementary School in Holbrook after parents made several public pleas.

Several parents spoke today and voiced concerns over student safety and logistical issues having that many kids needing alternative transportation options.

"In this day and age, too many kids walking isn't a good thing," Lake Ronkonkoma resident Joe Mulligan said.

If the board says yes, the measure would be a proposition question added to this year's school budget ballot. That would require parents to give the final go-ahead.

The board is scheduled to vote to approve a budget at its meeting on Wednesday, April 9.