Politics & Government
End Framingham Councilor King's Obstruction of a Late Bus Solution
Framingham parents: Turn up to the Council meeting Tuesday, Dec 10, to call for a unanimous vote in support of in-house school buses.
The School Committee’s decision to bring school bus operations in house to solve the chronic late bus problem deserves huge support from the community. In a prior article, Councilor King was criticized for running interference on implementation of in-house busing:
Framingham Councilor King Tries to Upend Solution to Late Bus Problem
City Councilors Mike Cannon and Janet Leombruno joined King in questioning the competence of the school administration and the School Committee in analyzing and solving a critical school system problem.
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Nothing is more important than getting our kids to school on time and by state law the School Committee has that responsibility, not the City Council.
The School Committee could have opted for a 3 year lease-to-buy contract for 72 buses, which would not have required City Council approval, but in a very responsible fashion, they went for a 5 year contract to smooth out the annual costs and align with best practices. 5 year contracts need City Council approval.
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Every year the City Council approves the Framingham Public Schools annual budget of more than $160 million. By state law, the City Council cannot line item edit that budget. It can only vote it up or down. If the School Committee regularly gets City Council approval of its $160+ million annual budget, it seems entirely reasonable that it can be trusted to have done similar due diligence on a bus contract which costs $2.5 million/year.
In essence, King et al are trying to line item edit the school district budget by their opposition. It cannot stand.
This is an opportunity for all parents to send a message to the City Council to stop blocking a sound solution for the late school bus problem. Please turn up at the 7pm December 10, 2024 City Council meeting, in person or on Zoom.
Find the details of the meeting, including the Zoom link at:
City Council Meeting Agenda, Tuesday December 10, 2024
PUT AND END TO LATE SCHOOL BUSES!!!
TURN UP IN FORCE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS!!!
