CONCORD, N.H.-Gov. Ayotte vetoed her first bill as Governor, and as a result leaves intact district-funded transportation for students attending half-day kindergarten programs in the Granite State.

Calling it a “step in the wrong direction” the Governor said no to a proposal authored by State Rep. Keith Ammon, of New Boston, which would have allowed school boards to decide if they want to pay the transportation costs for students. Ammon said he came up with the idea after finding out his district ended up spending $75,000 a year to bus a “very small number” of students.

In her veto message Ayotte said “Half-day kindergarten helps provide New Hampshire children with an educational foundation that sets them up for a lifetime of success. To no longer require transportation for these children to and from these schools would place an undue burden on working families.”

Meanwhile opponents also note that transportation should be provided since it’s part of the cost of an adequate education that forms the basis of state aid to public schools.