Parents Voice Frustrations Over Bus Service for Special Needs Students

News Summary

In New Britain, parents of special needs students are expressing their frustration with First Student’s transportation services, which have faced significant issues. Complaints range from late pickups to children being dropped off at the wrong schools, raising serious safety concerns. Parents recount distressing incidents involving their children, highlighting the emotional impact on families. The school district is working to improve communication and hold First Student accountable while the transportation problems continue to affect the community.

New Britain – Parents of special needs students in New Britain are expressing their frustration with the transportation services provided by First Student, which have been plagued by issues just one week into the new school year. Complaints from parents include instances of late pickups and drop-offs, as well as reports of children being taken to the wrong schools, raising serious concerns about student safety and well-being.

One parent, Somers McCray, described a harrowing experience involving her son, who has autism. After school ended at 3:30 p.m. in Waterbury, McCray’s son did not arrive home as expected. When she contacted First Student’s dispatch for information, she was informed that the bus had lost its GPS tracking signal. Utilizing iPhone locator technology, McCray tracked her son down, only to discover that he was nearly 40 miles away in Danbury. She had to coordinate with the dispatcher and the bus driver to locate her son, who was eventually found at a 7-Eleven in Southington, visibly distressed from the lengthy and confusing detour.

Another unsettling account came from Lilly Reyes, whose nonverbal son uses a wheelchair. Reyes reported that her son was taken to the wrong school after the driver failed to have the proper paperwork. He was intended to be dropped off at a school in Killingly but instead ended up in Plainville, arriving late at 10:45 a.m. Reyes expressed concern about the emotional impact these transportation issues had on her son, indicating that he experienced self-harm and dysregulation. She further detailed how he was left waiting at school for two hours after his bus broke down on the highway.

These incidents have not only caused distress for students but have also increased emotional strain on families and school staff, leading to rising concern throughout the community. New Britain School Superintendent Dr. Tony Gasper acknowledged the communication problems and the unpreparedness of First Student as a primary factor behind these issues. He noted that late buses have led to students returning home several hours after their scheduled drop-off times.

In response to the transportation difficulties, the district is prioritizing improved communication to inform parents of any delays in real-time. First Student has publicly apologized for the disruptions and has admitted to facing challenges with timely deliveries and driver availability. To mitigate these issues, the company plans to recruit out-of-state drivers and vehicles while also implementing incentives to attract qualified personnel.

As the situation unfolds, the school district is contemplating financial penalties to hold First Student accountable for the ongoing problems which have persisted since it took over the contract for specialized transportation services in June. The district has taken steps to formally notify First Student of its concerns and has demanded a corrective action plan to address the ongoing issues.

Overall, the transportation failures have severely impacted families in New Britain, leading to multiple reports of students being dropped off late or taken to incorrect locations. Parents continue to raise their voices, calling for immediate resolutions to ensure the safe and timely transport of their children as the school year progresses.

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Additional Resources

• NBC Connecticut
• Wikipedia: School Bus
• WFSB
• Google Search: School Transportation Issues
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• Google Scholar: School Bus Service Issues
• NBC Connecticut
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Transportation Services
• CT Insider
• Google News: New Britain School Bus Problems