Bus Contract Change

Would Be Disruptive

To the Editor:

There is a crucial issue that has befallen the citizens of Newtown. In order to save money and cut spending for Newtown, the Board of Education and the superintendent of schools have held a bidding for the Newtown busing contract. The contract at risk is MTM Transportation, which is owned by three owner/operators; Thomas and Maria Adams and Michelle Voight. The Board of Education has concluded that that All-Star Transportation, an outside source, would be the cheapest busing system to bring into our community. If the contract is awarded to All-Star Transportation, the current system of buses, drivers and aides may be replaced. This ultimately will jeopardize the contracts of all the owner/operators of Newtown in that they will expire without renegotiation and most likely will be awarded to All-Star in the next couple years. The people of Newtown must be aware of the issue and help raise support to stop the incoming of a new busing system. As a community it is our duty to let it be known that the citizens of Newtown oppose the Board of Education awarding the town’s busing system contract to All-Star Transportation or any other outsource.

Members of our community see this problem as a tragedy and are deeply upset by the deliberations of the Board of Education and their notion to bring a new busing system into Newtown. MTM Transportation deals with specials needs children of all ages and each with very unique requirements and cases. Being an aide for MTM, I can say firsthand that I see the strong relationships and communication that transpires between drivers, aides, parents and especially the children. The intricate cooperation and bonds that have been built are irreplaceable. There is no way that an entire new system would be able to take on the responsibility and the understanding of the very particular scenarios that are being dealt with safely and efficiently by the existing company, MTM Transportation. Newtown’s taxpayers are resisting a change due to the fact that it is their children that are the main focus of the topic. These parents do not wish to see new people, strangers from out of town, transport their children. It would be detrimental for the Board of Education to center their decision solely on the basis of the cheapest option. Many elements come into play and it is often true that quality diminishes with cost. MTM Transportation is a fantastic and very credible company. Employees and the entire system as a whole are very advantageous and of good standing. To uproot our community by awarding the busing contract to All-Star would be disruptive.

Brittany Williams

10 Washbrook Road, Newtown                                        April 8, 2009