Transportation Concerns Discussed at Region 14 Board Meeting

BETHLEHEM-WOODBURY – Region 14 is no stranger to transportation concerns.

The last time a major change took place – the reconfiguration of elementary schools – transportation was a big issue. Residents expressed upset over confusing bus schedules and late arrivals.

This year, parents and daycare providers at the Monday, August 15, Board of Education meeting wanted to know the answer to one question: Will students be transported from Woodbury daycares to Bethlehem Elementary School and back again?

The question came up after some parents were told by the district that finding a new daycare might be the only solution, after the elementary schools reverted to K-5.

Rachel Neri of Bethlehem said her son has attended the same daycare since he was two-years-old. She said that if her son could not attend his daycare, he would have to deal with two transitions instead of one.

“I feel it’s a lot of change in a short period of time,” Neri said. “I don’t think I’m ready for it, to be honest.”

Valerie LeBlanc said this summer has been trying because she did not receive an answer from Region 14 regarding transportation from daycare to school. On May 6, she said she received a letter from the district, telling her that her child was attending Bethlehem Elementary School.

“Nowhere in there did it mention a busing situation,” she said.

LeBlanc said she was disappointed by the possible solution mentioned by administration, that she make changes to her daycare arrangements.

Jeanne Hawley, a licensed daycare provider in Woodbury, said communication on this matter was nonexistent for months. She expressed thanks that the item was put on the agenda but lamented the lateness.

“The schools were deconfigured in February,” said Hawley. “It’s now August, two weeks before school begins, and parents don’t know whether they have childcare for their kids.”

Hawley asked that in the future, the administration contact parents earlier in the year.

“It’s been a very angst-producing situation,” she said. “My feeling is that there didn’t seem to be any interest in responding at all, until the new board came forth in July.”

Prior solutions stated by the district were to find other daycare arrangements or pay $180 a day for busing, said Hawley. She said parents wrote letters and were not provided answers in a timely fashion.

Interim Superintendent Greg Little, Ed.D., said the cost of a bus dedicated to transporting approximately 20 children to and from the three pertinent daycares was $35,000.

“We tried to figure out what would be a win-win and how we could provide a service to Woodbury daycare centers without spending $35,000,” said Dr. Little. “We didn’t budget for that.”

The bus company agreed to dedicate a bus to the daycare centers at no cost to the district, he said.

Decisions, Decisions

The board approved a motion stating that the region will continue its practice of providing transportation to and from licensed daycare providers and Bethlehem Elementary School for the 2011-12 school year.

Five board members were in favor of the motion. Chairman Chuck Cosgriff abstained, citing a possible perception of conflict of interest, as his wife operates the Early Learning Center in Woodbury. Gary Suslavich voted against the motion.

Suslavich said he supports following the practice for one year, but feels the transportation policy needs to be addressed. He worried about opening up the proverbial Pandora’s Box.

Dr. Little suggested the board create a committee of parents and staff to research the present policy. He recommended seeking input from local daycare providers. The board agreed to refer the matter to the Policy Subcommittee for review.

“It’s OK to open up Pandora’s Box because it’s a box worth opening,” said Dr. Little. “This is not only a present need of families. It’s going to be a future need, so be progressive.”

Julie Clark of Creative Arts Studio said the board needs to look to the future.

“This problem is not going to end after this year,” she said.

Clark added that childcare is so much more these days, likening it to an extended family. Cosgriff said the same of the region.

“Someone had mentioned it before – we’re a small community and we are,” said Cosgriff. “We’re a small family.”