Save MTM

For Our Children

To the Editor:

I attended the Newtown Board of Education meeting on April 21 along with many Newtown residents because the Board of Education was going to vote on the MTM bus contract. Several of us, including myself, spoke up on behalf of MTM and praised them for what they do for Newtown and our children. The Board of Education listened to all of us but decided to postpone the vote until Thursday, April 30. They didn’t seem interested in what all of us had to say. It seems as if all they care about is money and the bottom line — not the safety and well-being of our children. The owner for All Star also attended the meeting and said he was not there to take away MTM jobs. My response to that is the following: if what you are saying is true, then withdraw your bid.

We should have the Newtown taxpayers vote on this issue — not the Board of Education. The Board of Education claims to be concerned for our children’s safety. But their actions show otherwise. All they are concerned with is money. I implore the Newtown Board of Education not to award the contract to All Star or any other bus company. Please do not get rid of MTM. If the Board of Education awards the contract to All Star or another bus company, it will be a bad thing for Newtown as people will not want to move to a town with an unsafe bus system and whose drivers we have no knowledge of. We were not provided with incorrect information. All Star is not a good bus company. I ask the Newtown Board of Education to listen to what the Newtown taxpayers are saying and do the right thing for us and our children. Our children and their safety should be the priority, not the almighty dollar.

Karen Visca

30 Mile Hill South, Newtown                                         April 21, 2009