The Stoughton Public Schools district in Massachusetts has reversed its decision to deny transportation to 150 students after announcing the addition of an extra bus. The district had initially declared that about 10% of the students who applied for bus transport would not receive it. The School Committee revealed that the new bus would run two routes each morning and afternoon to accommodate the students. Superintendent Joseph Baeta assured parents that the buses may be delayed by 15 to 20 minutes initially, but updates would be provided regularly.
The cost of the additional bus amounted to $79,000, funded by savings resulting from recent resignations in the district’s central office. The School Committee emphasized that no classrooms or staffing were affected by the budget allocation for the bus. The district is currently experiencing a rapid growth in population, leading to the need for more transportation services.
Additionally, Superintendent Baeta addressed misinformation and negativity surrounding the issue, particularly concerning the transport of migrant children living in shelters. He clarified that the two extra buses provided by the state were specifically for children from the state shelter system and not at the expense of local students. Future discussions will focus on maintaining budget constraints while accommodating the growing student population. Students affected by the bus changes will be contacted by the district.
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