MADISON, Wis. -- LaFollette students are spending less time on the bus thanks to a Madison Metro route change designed to get them home sooner.

Last fall, WISC-TV reported on LaFollette students who were forced to drop out of extra curricular activities and sports because there was no way to get home.

"They lose that whole after-school extra-curricular involvement kind of thing and that's lousy because it's such a huge part of school," said LaFollette principal John Broome.

At the time, the last Madison Metro bus to the south side stopped at 5 p.m. Students who did make that bus endured a long ride with numerous stops and a transfer, all of which took a minimum of two hours, WISC-TV reported.

"We've got tutoring programs, we have extra-curricular stuff, we've got practices, we have hundreds of kids here from 3:35 until 6 p.m. on a regular basis," said Broome.

But thanks to a tenacious teacher and $27,000 from the city of Madison, there are new bus routes that stop at LaFollette every half an hour before heading directly to the South Side transfer point.

The routes were designed to get students home a little more quickly.

Broome said the newer bus options give the kids the incentive to be involved in extra curricular activities – a key ingredient to a successful education.

"That's what, for a number of kids, gives them the little extra hold that keeps them here and let's them do the right thing," said Broome.

Broome said he's had no complaints from teachers, students or parents about the new bus schedule.

Students waiting on an east side bus on Monday afternoon told WISC-TV they wish the east side routes would have also been shortened. Several students said they are often on the bus for more than an hour to get home.