Lanesborough School Writing Transportation Policies
 The School Committee is implementing a series of transportation regulations. |
Currently, the school doesn't have a policy in place, leaving Principal Ellen Boshe to make the decision on a case-by-case basis.
"Right now my position is that, on a case by case since they are similar, I haven't been saying the bus will pick up your children," Boshe said on Wednesday.
The School Committee pulled state statutes as a guide but members said they don't agree with the distances suggested. The draft policy calls for children in Grades 1 through 3 to walk if they live less than a mile from the school. For children in Grades 4 through 6, it is a mile and a half.
"Essentially, how this is going to work out is parents will have to provide that transportation. I just don't see students in Grades 1-3 walking one mile home — sidewalks or not — in this environment," said School Committee member Jim Moriarty.
For the School Committee, the surrounding landscape poses a concern. The school sits atop Summer Street with one side of the hill having no sidewalks. Chairwoman Regina DiLego said it isn't safe for any student on that east side to have to walk.
Boshe said the furthest distance to school a student walks is about a half-mile. But, it won't always be that way. The furthest distance to a bus stop is three-quarters of a mile, she said.
"You have some kids who are getting picked up closer than a mile," she said.
The committee has been crafting an array of transportation policies. Another question posed is whether staff members can transport students. The School Committee quickly said, "No."
"I think it is a lot cleaner and safer to say we do not transport," Boshe said.
The policy was tabled for more time but it was acknowledged it will also come with a financial impact. The number of pupils needing transportation determines the number of buses. For this school year, the committee opted for one fewer bus in an attempt to save money.
However, the lack of the bus has created a longer bus ride, which has some parents concerned. The way DuFour Bus Co. determined routes has one bus traveling from the north border to the south — with the child with the longest ride on the bus for 45 minutes. The buses in between were filled, said Boshe.
"There is some concern. The bus drivers are concerned about he winter," when travel will be even slower, Boshe said.
Residents Jodi Szczepaniak-Locke and Jen DeChaine both spoke on Wednesday about concerns with the transportation system — questioning the routes and the uses of the buses and vans.
"It is something we have to look at as we are planning the budget for next year," DiLego said.
Tags: bus routes, LES, school bus,
