LI Parents Claim Bus Service Skipped Stops, 1 Hour Delays For Students

BAYPORT, NY — Within the first few days of the new school year, Bayport-Blue Point School District's news expanded bus service raised frustrations, after parents say their students were over an hour late to school.

According to The Suffolk County Net News, parents reported a number of issues beginning the first day of school on Aug. 31, such as: middle-school buses students dropped off over an hour late; stops being skipped; and elementary students dropped off at the wrong bus stop.

The expanded service comes from the passage of the 2022-2023 budget, which ensured that all students who previously crossed a highway or railroad crossing to travel to school are provided transportation. This included students whose home address is less than .25 miles from their school.

WE Transport Towne Bus is the current provider of buses for the district, a represenative confirmed with Patch.

On Sept. 1, Superintendent Timothy P. Hearney sent a letter to families, addressing these issues.

"As you know, this year our District expanded its transportation program serviced by an outside provider to increase transportation opportunities and improve safety for our students," said Hearney. "We are aware that there were several difficulties involving lateness and the pick-up and drop off procedures at some of the bus stops over the course of the past two days."

He went on to announce that the district communicated these issues with the bus provider:

"Please be assured that we take the responsibility of transporting your children very seriously and apologize for the less than seamless roll-out of this week’s transportation services," said Hearney. "We have spoken to the bus provider to ensure that the problems our families have experienced, as well as our safety concerns, be rectified immediately and that enhanced service protocols be implemented across all bus routes."

While the expansion has experienced hiccups, some parents are grateful the district is striving for student safety.

Donna Schlossberg told Patch that she is "so glad" this expansion has passed, as she would often worry about her children.

"My kids had to cross Nichols Road, and as a working mom who did not work locally, it was scary. On foggy days, I would leave work to pick them up," she said. "This is so much better. New systems always have adjustment periods."

Patch has reached out to WE Transport Towne Bus for comment.