News Summary
Parents in New Britain are alarmed by significant transportation issues affecting their children, particularly those with special needs. Complaints about late pickups, incorrect drop-offs, and lack of communication from First Student have intensified. Incidents have included missed locations and lengthy delays that have caused distress for both students and families. The school district is working with the bus company to address these challenges and has called for a corrective action plan to ensure reliable transportation for all students.
New Britain, CT – Parents in New Britain are expressing significant frustration just one week into the new school year due to transportation issues caused by First Student, the bus company contracted by the city. Complaints have arisen regarding late pickups and drop-offs, with some students being taken to incorrect schools.
One particularly alarming incident involved a child with autism whose mother reported he was transported to the wrong location, leading to heightened anxiety for both the student and the parent. The boy’s school day concluded at 3:30 p.m. in Waterbury, but he did not arrive home on time. When the parent’s concerns prompted a call to dispatch, she was informed that the GPS tracking had been lost. Utilizing her iPhone’s locator technology, she discovered her son was in Danbury, nearly 40 miles away from his intended destination. Coordinating with dispatch and the bus driver, she ultimately located her son at a 7-Eleven in Southington. The child reported feeling scared, tired, hungry, and in pain from the extensive and distressing travel.
Another parent, whose nonverbal son uses a wheelchair, reported that due to the driver lacking proper paperwork, her son was mistakenly taken to the wrong school. Instead of arriving at his designated location in Killingly, he found himself in Plainville, arriving over two hours late at 10:45 a.m. This type of mistake has additional emotional consequences for the child, leading to instances of self-harm and significant dysregulation. In another troubling event, the same parent’s child was left at school for two hours after the bus broke down on the highway, further exacerbating the situation.
In response to these issues, Superintendent Dr. Tony Gasper has acknowledged the communication problems and the overall unpreparedness of First Student for the start of the academic year. He noted that delays in bus services have resulted in students returning home with hours of lateness. Efforts are underway to establish more effective communication strategies to ensure parents are informed proactively about delays.
First Student has issued an apology, admitting to challenges regarding timely deliveries and driver availability. In an attempt to rectify these shortcomings, the company is bringing in drivers and vehicles from out-of-state and has begun providing incentives to attract qualified local drivers. The school district is also considering implementing financial penalties against First Student to ensure accountability for their service failures.
The issues with the bus company are not new; complaints have persisted since First Student assumed the contract for specialized transportation services in June. In light of ongoing challenges, the district has issued a formal notice of concern to First Student demanding a corrective action plan be submitted promptly. Parents have reported multiple incidents of their children being consistently dropped off late or at incorrect locations, leading to increased distress for families and school personnel.
The urgent need for an efficient and reliable transportation service for special needs students has never been clearer, as parents are left worrying about the wellbeing of their children during what should be a seamless return to school. As students await their transportation and families seek resolution, the district continues to navigate the complexities of this critical issue.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Connecticut
- Wikipedia: School Bus
- WFSB
- Google Search: School Transportation Issues
- WTNH
- Google Scholar: School Bus Service Issues
- NBC Connecticut
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Transportation Services
- CT Insider
- Google News: New Britain School Bus Problems
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