A Bus Stop Safety Problem

To the Editor:

A school bus stop safety problem exists at the corner of Butterfield and Parmalee Hill Road. Parents in the area have come before the Police Commission to express their concerns. The police department has set up stop signs, placed slow speed signs, patrolled the road, and set up speed traps to correct the problem. However, the problem still exists because there is a bus stop right at the corner and many parents, children, and cars congest the area as the school bus arrives.

John Reed, the school superintendent, was informed of this problem last year by letter and Mary Kelly, director of transportation, has also been contacted to correct this safety issue with no results.

One solution would be a small bus on the route to pick up children at their home and deliver them at their home at the end of the day as is done in some other areas of Newtown. Possibly alternative means could be found.

Herb Rosenthal was aware of the safety issue last year and expressed his concern to Dr Reed.

Now, more than a year later, the parents have come again to the Police Commission – who will continue to support those parents by patrolling, setting speed traps, and helping direct traffic at that intersection. The police have done about all they can do. I personally apologize to Amy Mangold, who was only expressing her concern for the safety of the children at that bus stop, at a recent meeting. The parents of Butterfield and Parmalee Hill should express their concerns too of this school bus stop problem to John Reed and the Board of Education who have the authority to solve this problem to the satisfaction of the parents involved.

Hopefully, with the support of the police commission, the patrol officers, the Board of Education, Mary Kelly, and Dr John Reed…the parents of Butterfield and Parmalee Hill Road will get a bus that will pick up the children at their driveways and return them there after school.

Charles E. Pilchard

6 Poor House Road, Newtown                                   October 5, 2001