News Summary
Parents in New Britain are frustrated with First Student, the school bus provider, due to persistent issues with late pickups and misdirected trips for special needs students. Incidents include students being taken to incorrect locations, causing emotional distress and safety concerns. The New Britain Public Schools Superintendent has acknowledged the problems and is working to improve communication and service reliability. First Student has apologized and is attempting to resolve the situation by recruiting more drivers. Ongoing challenges highlight the need for effective transportation solutions for students with special needs.
New Britain Faces Transportation Chaos as First Student Fails to Deliver Timely Service for Special Needs Students
In New Britain, parents are experiencing significant frustration with the school bus provider, First Student, just one week into the new academic year. Numerous reports indicate persistent issues with late pickups, drop-offs, and misdirection of students requiring specialized transportation services.
Incidents Highlight Ongoing Transportation Failures
Several parents have detailed distressing incidents involving their children. One parent, Somers McCray, recounts that her son, who has autism, was taken to the wrong location, causing extensive concern. Despite his school day ending at 3:30 p.m. in Waterbury, McCray’s son was not home by that time. When she contacted the dispatch, she was told that the GPS tracking system had been lost on the bus, complicating the situation further.
Using her own iPhone locator, McCray discovered her son was in Danbury, nearly 40 miles away. She then coordinated with the dispatcher and bus driver to meet her son at a 7-Eleven in Southington. Her son reported feeling scared, tired, hungry, and in pain, after being transported far beyond his intended destination.
Other Parents Report Similar Problems
Another parent, Lilly Reyes, shared that her nonverbal son, who uses a wheelchair, was similarly misrouted. Her son was supposed to be taken to a school in Killingly, but instead was driven to Plainville and arrived at the school in Plainville at 10:45 a.m.. Reyes emphasized the emotional toll that these transportation errors inflict on her son, including instances of self-harm and behavioral dysregulation.
In addition, Reyes experienced a breakdown when her son’s bus was stranded on the highway, resulting in her child being left at school for over two hours without proper transportation options, raising safety and emotional concerns for families involved.
School District Acknowledges Challenges and Takes Action
The Superintendent of New Britain Public Schools, Dr. Tony Gasper, acknowledged communication shortcomings and admitted that First Student was unprepared for the start of the school year. He confirmed that late buses are causing students to arrive home well past their scheduled arrival times, impacting both students and families.
Superintendent Gasper stated that the district is actively working to establish better communication channels to inform parents promptly about delays and issues with transportation. This effort aims to reduce uncertainty and improve safety for students relying on bus services.
First Student Addresses the Problems
First Student issued a formal apology, recognizing challenges related to timely deliveries and a shortage of qualified drivers. The company has responded by dispatching out-of-state drivers and vehicles to meet operational needs and is implementing incentives to attract new drivers amid worker shortages.
Despite these efforts, ongoing issues have prompted the school district to consider financial penalties against First Student to ensure accountability. A formal notice of concern has been issued, along with a request for a comprehensive corrective action plan.
Background and Context
These transportation problems began after First Student took over the contract for specialized student transportation services in June. Since then, parent reports of students being dropped off late or at incorrect locations have increased, leading to heightened stress and logistical challenges for families and school staff. The district’s efforts are focused on resolving these systemic issues to safeguard student well-being and restore confidence in the transportation system.
The disruption has underscored the critical importance of reliable transportation services for students with special needs, highlighting the need for effective oversight and operational improvements within contracted service providers.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Connecticut
- Wikipedia: School Bus
- WFSB
- Google Search: School Transportation Issues
- WTNH
- Google Scholar: School Bus Service Issues
- NBC Connecticut
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Transportation Services
- CT Insider
- Google News: New Britain School Bus Problems
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