News Summary
In New Britain, parents are increasingly frustrated with delays and errors by First Student, the contracted bus company for special needs students. Complaints include late pickups, wrong drop-offs, and alarming incidents where children were lost or taken to incorrect schools. The school district acknowledges the issues and aims to enhance communication. First Student has apologized and is taking steps to address operational shortcomings, but skepticism remains among parents regarding the effectiveness of these efforts. The situation raises concerns about the safety and reliability of transportation for children.
New Britain – Parents in New Britain are expressing growing anger and frustration just a week into the school year over the delays and logistical errors made by the bus company First Student, which has been contracted by the city to provide transportation for special needs students. Numerous complaints have surfaced from parents regarding late pickups and drop-offs, with some cases highlighting children being taken to the wrong schools entirely.
One of the more alarming incidents involved a mother named Somers McCray, whose son has autism. On the third day of school, her son, who attends a school in Waterbury, was misplaced and did not arrive home at the expected time of 3:30 p.m. Frantic calls to the dispatch revealed that the bus had lost GPS tracking. By utilizing iPhone locator technology, McCray was able to track her son to a location in Danbury, nearly 40 miles from home. This led to an overwhelming worry as she coordinated with the dispatcher and the bus driver to reunite with her son, who ended up being dropped off at a 7-Eleven in Southington. McCray’s son reported feeling scared, tired, hungry, and in pain after the lengthy detour.
Another parent, Lilly Reyes, shared her concerns as well. Her nonverbal son, who uses a wheelchair, was driven to the wrong school due to the driver’s lack of proper paperwork. While his assigned school was located in Killingly, he was mistakenly dropped off in Plainville and arrived late at 10:45 a.m. This mix-up caused considerable emotional distress for Reyes’s son, which included episodes of self-harm and dysregulation. Further complicating matters, Reyes experienced additional delays when her son’s bus broke down on the highway, leaving him at school for over two hours until transportation was finally arranged.
The New Britain school district, led by Superintendent Dr. Tony Gasper, has acknowledged the communication issues and the lack of preparedness exhibited by First Student for the commencement of the school year. Late bus arrivals have resulted in students returning home hours after their scheduled pickup times, disrupting routines for families and increasing stress for school staff. Dr. Gasper has indicated that the district is working toward enhancing communication regarding transportation delays in a proactive manner to keep parents informed.
In response to the significant operational shortfalls, First Student has issued an apology, recognizing the challenges surrounding timely deliveries and the availability of qualified drivers. The company has responded by bringing in out-of-state drivers and additional vehicles, and it is implementing new incentives aimed at attracting qualified personnel. Despite these efforts, there remains skepticism among parents and officials regarding the effectiveness of these measures.
As the situation unfolds, the school district is contemplating imposing financial penalties on First Student to ensure accountability and to pressure the company into resolving ongoing issues with transportation. Concerns about the reliability of bus services have persisted since First Student took over the contract for specialized transportation services in June. The district has formally communicated its dissatisfaction through a notice of concern and has demanded a corrective action plan from the bus company.
The frustrations voiced by parents highlight a broader challenge that affects not only the students but also their families and the school community at large. In dealing with numerous incidents of students being dropped off late or at incorrect locations, schools and families are facing increased distress and uncertainty about the care and safety of their children during transportation.
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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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