Schools

Parents, Administrators Clash Over Bus Cuts

Parents at Thursday's board meeting questioned impact of the district's cuts for the 2010-11 budget on their children's safety.

Commack parents are questioning the safety of cutting nine buses from district routes, a measure that was necessary to pass the Commack Union Free School District's 2010-11 budget package.

At Thursday's Board of Education Meeting, several parents – including Jackie Kaplan, Iris Passaro and Lisa Eisenberg – stood up to discuss the cuts and how they were impacting their children, three weeks into the school year.

Kaplan said the buses are overcrowded, with children sitting three to a seat and some on the floor. She also said that some of the bus stops are unsafe, such as the one across Genesee Drive – a site that has been changed several times in the past few years after she and others on the route sent several letters to the transportation department.

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Assistant Superintendent for Business, Laura Newman, said the bus cuts increased the ride times 10 to 15 minutes per ride, making most of the rides about 45 minutes from door to door.

The kindergarten to fifth grade buses – those servicing Wood Park Primary School, North Ridge Primary School, Indian Hollow Primary School, Burr Intermediate School and John Mandracchia- Sawmill Intermediate School – can fit three to a seat, Newman said. 

Find out what's happening in Commackwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Superintendent of Commack Union Free School District, Dr. Donald James, said the bus issue is being monitored and will be revamped in the coming weeks.

He said a computer program currently designs the routes – which sometimes adds extra time on the bus for younger children, something he said the district will try to change.

A new computer program may be used in the future and James said the district will then have someone evaluate all the new routes by hand and perhaps even send some buses on test runs to decide the most logical remedy to the situation.

Board of Education President Mary-Jo Masciello said while the buses are crowded, they are not overcrowded and the district is looking into ways of eliminating the problems caused by these cuts. She said the safety of this children is always the first priority.

As of now, the 69 large yellow buses, supplied by Baumann Bus Company, support 55 students where last year they supported 40 to 45. There are also 16 full-time vans and 38 part-time smaller buses in the fleet used by the district.

James asked parents to be patient with the district as the changes are made.

The district transportation office could not be reached for comment on this issue. 

Patch will continue to watch this issue and update with information as it becomes available. Want to write an opinion piece? E-mail victoria@patch.com.

 


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