Some Clarifications About

The Three-Tier System

To the Editor:

There continues to be misinformation and speculation concerning the three-tier busing system and why the change was made.

First, let me clarify, traffic problems at the high school and middle school have existed for years. It is not a new problem created by the change to a three-tier bus system.

The three-tier system was a plan conceived in the transportation office and ultimately backed by the owner/operators and presented to the 5/6 transportation committee as one possible option for the opening of Reed school. The committee, composed of parents, teachers, administrators, owner/operators and the transportation director, discussed a number of options, held a meeting for public input and reviewed parent surveys. The committee recommended remaining at four tiers when the Reed school opened to finish the year with the least disruption, then changing to three tiers for fall 2003. The committee viewed the three-tier system to have several benefits.

Shifting student ridership to a more uniform level within all tiers would save time and money. With the four tiers, the highest student ridership is fifth–eighth grades, requiring extra buses to accommodate that one tier. With buses split between Reed and Middle School, and many buses doing double pickups, runs became much longer.

One philosophy of the Reed school is keeping children younger longer, in an environment without pressures of older students. This theory was applied to transporting the fifth and sixth graders separate from the middle school. The highest number of discipline problems occurs on buses with the middle school age students.

A concern, voiced by many, was the late dismissal of 3:33 at Reed and Middle schools. Shifting to three-tier allowed for earlier dismissal on the last tier.

Concerning the high school/middle school runs, no bus is over capacity. It may be “uncomfortable,” but this is short lived. In the morning, seats fill up toward the end of the run. In the afternoon, seats become open as soon as students begin to leave.

 First Student reported to the Board of Education returning to four tiers would require four to six buses, costing approximately $400,000. This is a conservative estimate from a source not familiar with our system. In reality, it would take two buses. First Student reported it takes most bus companies until mid October to “calm down.” Historically, bus routes in Newtown were always settled in the first few days of schools.

Most of the transportation problems have now been resolved. The three-tier system is working and will continue to improve. The positive objectives have been met. With routes in place, transportation of students at the start of the school year will again be uneventful.

Owner/Operator,

Paul Miles

16 Elm Drive, Newtown                                            October 29, 2003