School’s Transportation Dept. Still Resolving A Few Snarls

By Larissa Lytwyn

While 70 percent of students are getting home by 4:10 pm and 90 percent by 4:20 pm, there are still a handful of school bus riders getting homing as late as 4:30 pm — or later.

These were the observations delivered by Transportation Director Anthony DiLonardo at the school board’s last meeting September 21.

Chairman Elaine McClure and Vice Chairman Lisa Schwartz said they had received phone calls from several concerned parents over continuing snarls in the busing system — particularly by the parents of Head O’ Meadow, Middle Gate, and Sandy Hook school students arriving home after 4:30 pm following 50-minute rides.

Mr DiLonardo said that second tier buses were arriving late to these three elementary schools, which dismiss as late as 3:22 pm.

Some buses do not arrive until approximately 3:45 pm. Mr DiLonardo’s goal is to have a bus arrive no later than approximately 3:35 pm.

A primary reason for the delay is the significant increase of students at St Rose of Lima Parochial School this year, he said. The school’s student population doubled, increasing by about 100 students.

Approximately 211 of the school’s 250 students ride the bus this year — a significant rise from last year.

Mr DiLonardo is currently working with administrators at St Rose, Hawley, and Reed Intermediate schools to coordinate their dismissal times at around 2:35 pm or 2:36 pm. This would allow the buses to arrive in a more timely fashion at the third-tier schools.

The board unanimously approved the inclusion of an additional half-bus, at a cost of approximately $24,500 a year, to be added to the St Rose fleet.

While she said she understood the need for the additional bus, Ms Schwartz expressed concern about the approval, deeming it a possible “quick-fix” solution.

School board member David Nanavaty even suggested that the board consider transitioning back to a four-tier system. He expressed concern that the cost of making the three-tier system function was actually negating its original cost-effectiveness.

Approximately $150,000 in buses and other adjustments were added to the three-tier system last year to make it work.

With the additional St Rose bus approved, Mr DiLonardo resolved to have the remaining issues worked out by the board’s next regularly scheduled meeting on October 5.