Open Invitation For Busing Proposals Concerns Parents

By Larissa Lytwyn

A recent legal notice from Newtown Public Schools inviting proposals from “reputable and qualified bus transportation companies” to serve children beginning July 1 has provoked concern in some parents.

The invitation to bid comes in the wake of the retirement of Art Bennett, who had been responsible for eight bus routes in town.

“I was born and raised here [in Newtown],” said Barbara Bloom, who currently has a third grade student attending Sandy Hook School. “The use of independent contractors has been around for many years.” Ms Bloom is concerned that the proposal’s openness to commercial companies may impinge on the livelihood of independent contractors. “The [current] drivers are highly respected members of the community,” she said. “They know the children. They know us.”

Mr Bennet, she noted, is active in the Knights of Columbus and other community organizations. “On commercial buses, the children rarely know who the bus driver even is,” said Ms Bloom. “[In the current system], we even know the substitutes!”

Mr Bennet, who has been driving students for 47 years, said this week he was also concerned about the possible transition. “The drivers are all from the town,” he said. “They care about the system, the children, and their safety.” He explained that his buses, of various ages, would be sold on a negotiable basis. “They can go out of town, or even out of state,” he said.

While there is no central bus union among the independent contractors, it is possible that some drivers can band together to purchase a bus. “I’ve had one driver for 14 years,” Mr Bennet said.

Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff, however, said that the open bidding proposal is simply a matter of policy. “Anyone in the state is welcome to apply [by the June 23 deadline],” he explained. Transportation Director Mary Kelly echoed Dr Pitkoff’s sentiments, adding that any concern about bus routes changing by the order of commercial companies is unfounded.

“On page 25 of the specifications and proposals document, concerning bus routes,” she said, “it states that any route changes will be performed by the district and provided to the contractor.” Further, she continued, “the district reserves the right to change any and all routes.” The document also specifies that contractors or drivers cannot make route changes without the district’s prior permission, though, periodically, the district may request their assistance to “evaluate or revise certain routes.”

Ms Kelly said that there have already been several proposal forms picked up by both state and local independent contractors.

Still, Ms Bloom is wary of the town’s bus routes someday being taken over by commercial contractors. She said she is more than satisfied by the current system. “They are extremely prompt,” she said. “And reliable. I know who all of the drivers are, and I feel safe.”

Residents concerned about this issue are invited to engage in the public participation portion of the next Board of Education meeting on July 8.