Canton school officials respond to bus concerns

Concerns over bus transportation continue to be a major challenge for the Canton Public Schools with several parents telling the School Committee last week during a public comment period that they could not understand why it takes more than an hour for some students to arrive home from a school that is only a few miles away.

The parents noted that some students did not arrive home until 4:30 p.m. during the first few days of the school year.

School Superintendent Derek Folan acknowledged that bus transportation has been a significant challenge for the new year. “We knew that we would need about two weeks to work out the bus routes and make adjustments to optimize service, efficiency and safety,” he said. “And we knew that the new bus company, First Student, and its drivers would need a period of acclimation to our town. We knew that this work would result in delays.”

But he added that it is a clear area that needs immediate improvement. Since the first day of school on August 31, First Student representatives have worked with Stephen Marshall, CPS director of finance and operations, and other CPS staff members to evaluate bus routes, review target times, and respond to parent/guardian feedback. Folan said they have devoted time on afternoons, weekends and nights to rework routes and respond to family concerns.

“Good adjustments have been made,” he said. “The great majority of our runs are going well. But certain buses, bus routes, and afternoon runs remain problematic. I want to acknowledge that some of our afternoon delays, which have reached a delay of 30 to 40 minutes, are unacceptable. That was our message to First Student during a meeting today (September 8). I also want to empathize with the families, especially those of very young students, who are rightly worried about their child’s well-being and safety. As a parent of three, I know that worry. For all, afternoon delays also impact afternoon activities and work schedules. It’s not just inconvenient; it’s disruptive.”

Folan concluded his report to the committee by noting, “We need to do better, and there is an urgency to this matter that needs our full attention. We have asked for patience, and we have apologized for the delays. But we are at a point where those statements only go so far. We will continue to do intentional work with First Student and strive to improve our communications.”

Marshall cited several factors that have contributed to the delays, including Canton’s overall traffic challenges, particularly in the afternoon; the change in start and end times at the Hansen School; and construction delays and detours.

Marshall said the mobile app that allows for real-time tracking of students’ buses will not be available to parents until all of the bus problems have been ironed out.

One parent asked the committee to review the entire school transportation system while examining factors such as seating accommodations; the maximum length of time a student should be on a bus; and communication with parents.

In other news from the September 8 meeting …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Sep 15 2022. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.