School Administrators Set About

To Change The Transportation System

To the Editor:

In a memo dated April 30, from Ron Bienkowski to Superintendent Janet Robinson, Mr Bienkowski states:

“The owner/operator system has served Newtown well. But the recommended cost effective solution is the most conservative and least painful way to introduce incremental change that positions us for the future, and provides the greatest advance notice possible to all affected parties.”

He also states: “We only get a few opportunities to make significant structural organizational changes.”

The administration has repeatedly and emphatically stated at Board of Education meetings and in a districtwide email sent to discourage parents from attending the Board of Education meeting, “this is not about the owner/operators” and “the owner/operators have three years left on their contract.” Yet Ron’s memo states the plan is to restructure transportation, and awarding MTM’s contract to another company is the first step in changing the entire transportation system.

The administration has also stated MTM is a company and not part of the owner/operator system. Michele Voight and Tom and Maria Adams (MTM) are current owner/operators who additionally have the contract to provide special ed transportation. They are very much part of the owner/operator system. Remove them and it changes the system.

Sending a contract out to bid to obtain the best price for services is absolutely essential for a school district. MTM was the lowest bidder. Awarding the contract to MTM will not cost the district more money. MTM has the experience, knowledge of Newtown and the school district, and are competitively priced, making them the best choice for the district.

The next Board of Education meeting is Tuesday, May 19, at the Reed Intermediate School Library.

Carey Schierloh

6 Shady Rest Boulevard, Sandy Hook                           May 13, 2009