School officials unveil transportation plan

School officials unveiled a possible transportation system for the fall that would eliminate the transfer at the middle school.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100624/NEWS02/706249983/1003/NEWS02       # # # # Springfield school official unveil transportation plan  •  Rutland Herald  •  By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: June 24, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD — School officials unveiled a possible transportation system for the fall that would eliminate the transfer at the middle school.  •  Monday night, Superintendent Frank Perotti and bus coordinator Lisa Hall proposed a one-tier bus system, in which all students, from kindergarten through 12th grade, would ride the same bus. The proposal would keep the same routes, but would require the elementary, middle and high schools to start at the same time.  •  Hall offered a number of positive points for the new schedule. The early start would eliminate the need for morning child care for elementary pupils whose parents work. Second, Hall proposed, having high school students on the same bus as the younger students would improve overall behavior.  •  “When the high school kids get on the bus, the little kids quiet down,” she said.  •  Jaynie Smith, a parent of two elementary-age children, questioned whether it is appropriate to have all pupils on the same bus.  •  “There is going to be language and things being discussed that I'm not sure my children are ready to hear,” she said.  •  Smith also questioned whether she would be able to pick up her two children — one who will be at Elm Hill and the other at Union Street — at the same location.  •  The single-tier system would eliminate one of the more problematic issues of the current system: the transfer at the middle school.  •  “That is something that is not looked upon with great favor by parents or anyone really who has to deal with it,” Perotti said of the current system, which, in addition to being confusing at times, also leaves some elementary pupils riding the bus until dark.  •  Hall said she hoped the new system would be more efficient. The proposed 16 bus runs a day is half of what the district operated just a few years ago. Officials are hoping the proposed system would attract more riders- only about 100 students use the bus now and cut down on traffic from parents dropping off and picking up their children.  •  Board Chairman Scott Adnams said he expects the board will make a decision at its next meeting in July.  •