Letter to the Editor: Superintendent Could be a Hero by Preserving Transportation Department

The following letter comes from CCRSD bus driver Bernie Sinacole.

Dear School Committee Members:

My name is Bernie Sinacole. I am a Concord School Bus driver. I have 32 years of experience in the transportation industry, especially school transportation. I have been a lot manager for the following towns; Grafton, Mendon and Milford. For 20 years I was a private school bus contractor.

When I came to work for Concord Public Schools, I was very impressed with the transportation department. Wayne Busa and John Arena do an outstanding job making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently and that all of the students at Concord have a safe ride to and from school. They also oversee all field trips and sports charters for the students.

This group of drivers is the best that I have ever worked with. They are all safe, dependable and professional. They do a great job! The mechanics, Gary, Joe and Steve are second to none and they also do a fantastic job.

Concord operates the most expensive and safest school buses on the road. The school department operates the buses for approximately a million dollars a year less than a private contractor based on the bid figures received.

Why are the superintendent and her assistant contemplating privatizing the school transportation department? There are many unanswered questions.

You have made a lifetime investment in the safe transportation of the children of Concord, the most precious cargo in the world. Why would you ever consider giving that up? To privatize your transportation department would be a huge mistake. You would be giving up control of a very important part of your school system and it will end up costing you more money.

What good is having a brand new high school if the parents are unhappy with how their children are being transported there or to any other school in Concord?

You currently have one of the safest and best operated transportation departments in the state and what a shame it would be to give that up. You will never experience the type of transportation you have been receiving with a private contractor. NEVER.

Thank you for your time,
Most Sincerely,

Bernie Sinacole

P.S.- The superintendent and her assistant would look like heroes if they could get the new high school built and keep the current transportation system intact...