CRANBERRY TWP — A mother said the new busing schedule by the Seneca Valley School District is unfair to her 6-year-old daughter, who will have to sit on the bus for more than an hour and a half with high school students to and from school.

Jennifer Pappas said her daughter, who’s going into first grade at St. Kilian in Cranberry Township, is scheduled to be picked up for school at 7:08 a.m., an hour earlier than her time last year.

Pappas said her daughter’s classes at St. Kilian don’t start until 8:30 a.m.

The young girl’s bus schedule is set by Seneca Valley because she lives in the district but goes to a private school.

Pappas said she was displeased with the new busing schedule and took her concerns to friends, who all said they experienced similar changes.

She then took her concerns to Jim Pearson, the director of transportation for Seneca Valley, who Pappas said couldn’t help her.

Now, with school slated to start in several days, Pappas said she’s afraid there’s no recourse and she fears her daughter will have to sit a long time on a bus with high school students who are being taken to the new Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

“I’m very concerned with her riding with high schoolers,” Pappas said. “It seems like a bullying event waiting to happen.”

Pappas said her meeting with Pearson was fruitless, although district officials on Wednesday said they are reviewing the situation, and that the busing schedule could change before school starts.

If there aren’t any changes, Pappas said she’ll be faced with one more remaining choice.

“We’re all going to have to drive our kids to school,” she said. “It’s already a long day for our kids, and they shouldn’t have to be on a bus for an hour and a half before school. And we don’t feel like it’s safe.”

Linda Andreassi, director of communications for the district, said officials are continuing their discussions regarding the busing schedules.

“We are currently in discussions with St. Kilian’s and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School regarding ridership,” she said in an e-mail. “We continue to work closely and cooperatively with both as we review parent questions regarding transportation. Should changes occur to the bus routes, parents will be notified immediately.”

School at St. Kilian and Seneca Valley starts on Monday.