News Summary
Concerns are rising among parents in New Britain over serious transportation issues with First Student, the contracted bus company. Just a week into the school year, families report severe delays, incorrect routing, and poor communication regarding the special transportation services for students. Disturbing incidents have included children being taken to wrong schools and delayed pickups, causing distress among families and raising safety concerns. The school district is aware and is actively seeking solutions to improve the situation.
New Britain Faces Transportation Challenges as First Student Fails to Deliver Punctual Service
New Britain, Conn. — Just one week into the new school year, parents of students requiring special transportation services are expressing widespread concern over persistent issues with the contracted bus company, First Student. These challenges include severe delays, misrouting, and insufficient communication, raising worries about student safety and wellbeing.
Parents Report Significant Delays and Routing Errors
Multiple parents have reported that their children have experienced late pickups and drop-offs, disrupting their routines and causing distress. Several families have experienced instances where students arrived home hours after their scheduled times, impacting both academic schedules and family plans. Some students have been taken to incorrect schools, further complicating matters.
In one notable incident, a parent identified as Somers McCray, whose son has autism, reported that her child was mistakenly taken to the wrong location. The child was supposed to finish school at 3:30 p.m. in Waterbury but did not arrive home as expected. When McCray contacted the dispatch center, she was told that the GPS tracking on the bus had been lost, preventing real-time monitoring of her son’s whereabouts.
Student Moved Far from Intended Destination
Using her iPhone’s locator, McCray tracked her son and discovered that he was in Danbury, nearly 40 miles from his destination. This misrouting caused her considerable concern, prompting her to coordinate with the bus driver and dispatcher to arrange a safe reunion. Eventually, the parent met her son at a convenience store in Southington, after a lengthy and stressful search.
The child reported feelings of fear, fatigue, hunger, and discomfort after the extensive and unanticipated travel. Such incidents highlight the challenges families face when transportation errors occur, especially with children requiring special care and supervision.
Additional Incidents Highlight Systemic Issues
Another local parent, Lilly Reyes, recounted her experience with her nonverbal son, who uses a wheelchair. She stated that her son was mistakenly routed to the wrong school due to the bus driver lacking proper paperwork. He was supposed to be transported to a school in Killingly but was instead taken to Plainville, arriving nearly two hours late at 10:45 a.m.
Reyes expressed concern over the emotional and physical toll the transportation problems have taken on her son, mentioning instances of self-harm and emotional dysregulation linked to these disruptions. Additionally, Reyes reported a separate incident where her son was left at school for two hours after his bus broke down on the highway, causing further distress and delays.
School District Responds to Transportation Failures
Superintendent Dr. Tony Gasper acknowledged that communication between the school district and First Student has faced challenges. He confirmed that the district was caught unprepared at the start of the school year, leading to a series of late buses and unanticipated delays in student arrivals and departures.
Superintendent Gasper emphasized that the district is actively seeking improved communication channels to notify parents proactively about delays and disruptions. The goal is to ensure families receive timely information to mitigate the impact of ongoing logistical issues.
First Student Begins Taking Corrective Measures
In response to the mounting concerns, First Student issued an apology and admitted to difficulties in maintaining timely deliveries and driver availability. The company has announced efforts to address these issues, including recruiting out-of-state drivers and acquiring additional vehicles to bolster capacity. The firm is also implementing incentives aimed at attracting qualified drivers to fill staffing gaps.
District Holds Bus Contractor Accountable
The school district is considering further actions, including potential financial penalties, to hold First Student accountable for the ongoing problems. Since taking over the transportation contract for specialized needs in June, the company has faced multiple reports of children being dropped off late or at incorrect locations. These incidents have heightened safety concerns and increased emotional strain on affected families and school staff.
In response to these persistent issues, the district has issued a formal notice of concern to First Student and demanded a detailed corrective action plan to improve service reliability and communication. The clock is ticking for the transportation provider to demonstrate improved performance and regain trust among parents and school personnel.
As the new school year progresses, ongoing monitoring and accountability measures will be essential to ensure that children with special transportation needs receive safe, timely, and reliable service.
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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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