School Bus Service Is A Great Value

To the Editor:

This letter to the town has only one goal … to ask What do we value in Newtown, Conn.? My subject of discussion is the school buses that carry our children to and from school every day. I have had the opportunity to talk with some of the drivers and they are concerned that the school district is looking at large bus companies to replace the owner/operators of the Newtown buses.

The bus drivers in town live in Newtown for the most part and have children in the school system. The children play with their children at church, at school, and at home in each other’s backyard. The children know their driver and are comfortable in this environment. I remember one time a few years ago a young child, a little guy, got on the wrong bus and did not get off when mom was expecting him. The drivers put the word out on the radio, and the young man was found and delivered to mom and all was well in Newtown. The owner/operators provide a big value, a level of care and concern for our children.

Consider the equipment that the owner/operators use. The buses are clean and shine. The bodies of the buses are not an eyesore and they are mechanically sound. The tires on the buses are not damaged or worn. We know the caliber of the drivers; they are neat and professional in appearance, take pride in their job and they use the same bus they maintain. They use the same bus because they are individual Newton business people. The owner/operators provide good value with a quality safe mode of transportation for our children.

Economically speaking, the owner/operators provide jobs for Newtown families that need an income and tax revenue to the town because the buses are garaged in Newtown. By shifting to a regional or national, publicly traded, bus company the school district may save some money that they want to use elsewhere, but it is not enough to offset the loss to the town in revenue and jobs, which is an overall increase in cost to the taxpayers, not a good value.

What do we as parents and taxpayers consider a value? Make your phone calls.

Robert J. Edwards

79 Mile Hill South Road, Newtown                                 April 6, 2009