NORWICH – The debate over changes in the busing policy at the Norwich City School District wages on after a meeting of the district’s board of education Tuesday night.
Five people addressed the board during the meeting, each criticizing the school district for its newest transportation policy, now under fire. The policy requires that students riding the bus after school have one consistent drop-off location as opposed to previous years’ policy that permitted last-minute changes for students riding to locations other than their usual destination.
According to district officials, policy changes were made in an attempt to limit confusion and secure safety measures, helping to ensure every child goes where they are supposed to when school lets out. The goal is to maintain consistency and safety, especially for the younger students from Gibson and Perry Browne Elementary.
Prior to receiving public comment during Tuesday’s meeting, School Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan noted that the district has on occasion made exceptions for parents, usually due to unforeseen emergencies. Some attendees responded sharply to the school’s handling of its policy.
“At some point, there’s got to be a better option than there is now,” said Misty Davis, addressing the board. Davis, who also spoke out against the busing policy during September’s board meeting, has three children, each in a different school within the district and each dismissed at different times. She explained that upcoming half-days and early dismissal from school will be problematic for her as she will need to take time off from work to pick up her kids. She also conveyed frustration that her daughter, a student at Perry Browne, has taken an interest in extracurricular activities, but can’t be too involved because of restraints in her dismissal policy.
“I was told I couldn’t even change her dismissal policy,” said Davis. O’Sullivan clarified that the Latch Key program – an after school program that many parents rely on – is in the process of setting up alternatives for students who usually attend the program for the upcoming half-days and the early dismissal this Friday.
“Our schools are very capable of handling (last minute changes),” argued Kerry Roberts, another parent who opposed the policy a month ago. “It might be difficult,” she added, “but they can do it.” Roberts went on to say that it shouldn’t be a problem to transport her kids to the Norwich YMCA, considering buses already travel to and past the Y on a daily basis – many of which have empty seats available, she said. “We’re not asking for changes in the bus route.”
Presently, the school board and administration is exploring new transportation options for the 2013-2014 school year, which involve additional changes that could include busing K-12 students at the same time.