Not So Smart

To the Editor:

The more I hear about the All Star bus contract, the more I have to question the process.  How did All Star know to lower their original bid?  Were the owner-operators allowed to see the other bids and were they given a chance to lower their bid?

Did the Board of Education ever think of the future consequences of having stranger-operators drive the students of Newtown?  Will there be continuity in the drivers?  How will the All Star drivers get to Newtown in case of early dismissal if they live out of town?  How will their larger buses be able to navigate Newtown’s narrow back roads in bad weather?  What happens when All Star wants to raise their price, considering they came in with such a low bid?  Can we go back to owner-operators?  Does the Boad fo Education care they are eliminating our Newtown neighbor’s jobs?  I am happy to hear there is a legal contest about to begin because it seems going with All Star is a huge mistake and unfair to Newtown in many respects.

All Star was also the lowest bidder in New Milford and they won the contract there.  Within a short time, their drivers held a strike for higher wages and there was no bus service!  All Star ultimately raised their prices to be in line with the cost of gas, maintenance and driver salaries.   This was documented in the newspaper and why didn’t the Board of Education do their homework?

Why couldn’t the Newtown residents have more say in the process? The Board of Education does not appear so “smart” or ethical.  Can they really get away with this?

Joanne Barnhart

Brushy Hill Road, Newtown                                 September 24, 2011