Reed Principal Responds To Bus Policy Confusion

By Eliza Hallabeck

As a member of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s Ladies Auxiliary, Linnea Stoyak said she was half-listening last week when the dispatcher on the scanner said something along the lines of not having students bring items on the bus.

Her ears perked up, and later, when her fifth grade daughter Stephanie came home from school, she learned the details of what she had missed.

“My daughter comes home and says, ‘I can’t bring my instrument on the bus,’” said Ms Stoyak this week.

Ms Stoyak was not alone in hearing the news. According to Reed Intermediate School Principal Sharon Epple, a number of concerned parents contacted the school last week to learn why their students could not bring instruments on the bus. The correct rule, Dr Epple said, is students cannot bring anything, whether it is a musical instrument or athletic gear, on the bus that is too large to fit on their laps or between their legs.

The rule does not forbid students from transporting musical instruments. Dr Epple also said larger instruments, like percussion instruments or cellos, are kept at the school for student use. This is to help students who would otherwise need to carry their own instruments back and forth from school.

It is not a new transportation rule in the district, according to Maritza Nezvesky in the school’s transportation department. Anything that is too big to be on a student’s lap or between their legs cannot be brought onto a school bus, Ms Nezvesky said, but, for some reason, more students tried to do that this school year. Ms Nezvesky said the real problem happens when students try to place large items in the isle, which blocks other students from getting on or off the school bus.

The rule was created with safety in mind, said Ms Nezvesky, “God forbid something happens. These things become missiles on the bus.”

But for parents last week, the information became scrambled somewhere between bus drivers and students. Learning the news from Stephanie prompted the Stoyak’s to start driving their daughter to school, at a time when they are trying to conserve gasoline.

“I can understand the safety reasons,” said Ms Stoyak before learning students are still allowed to bring musical instruments on the bus, given the size. Adding later, “It would have been nice to have some sort of notice about this from the school.”

According to Dr Epple, there was no notice, because there was no change in the policy. The school’s PTA newsletter did address the situation last week, she said, in response to the number of concerned parents contacting the school.

The confusion also provoked Linnea’s husband Kevin to write a letter to the editor in last week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. After learning the policy, Ms Stoyak said it is hard for students to carry both a backpack and a musical instrument on the bus either on their lap or between their legs on the floor.

Dr Epple said she understands where bus drivers saw room to voice concern to students on the bus.

“The buses are fuller this year,” said Dr Epple, “and I think some students put down their instruments next to them. And that takes a seat from a student.”

While students may have perceived they can no longer carry any instruments on the bus with them, Dr Epple said, this is not the case. Any parents concerned with this or other news they learn from their students can contact the school directly, Dr Epple said, at 203-270-4880.