Change in Busing Policy Riles Boyd Parents

Saying that the change in busing policy has nothing to do with new Boyd Principal Pam Fine, Superintendent Peter Scordo cited staffing, safety, and legal concerns in his decision to end the practice of allowing children to go home on a different bus, even if a written request from a parent is provided.

District Counsel John Gross concurred at the Sept. 15 Board of Education meeting and referenced New York State Education Law 3635 which says that the district must provide busing to and from a student’s home. The only exception is to certified pre-school and after-school programs.

Gross said that by law, if the district offers special busing accommodations for one student, it must provide the same service for all students within the district.

The issue arose due to a single parent’s request to have her child sent home with another student, where she would receive child care while participating in a short-term, after-school activity. If the request isn’t approved, the student will be going home to an empty house.

Citing the lack of an assistant principal plus budget cuts to staff, Scordo said Boyd isn’t equipped to handle the 15-20 notes that come in on a daily basis for busing changes. Ensuring that students get onto the proper bus can also take away from instructional time.

Resident Mary Jane Mackey, a former teacher in three other districts, queried the amount of time it takes to handle the written requests. “I must be very dense,” she said, and asked why the policy wasn’t illegal in the past.

Gross said if the district had deviated from 3635 in the past, it was because no one had raised the issue. “Now that I’ve been asked,” he said, “I’m obligated to tell.”

Parent Carmella Louis said the practice was common at the Elwood Middle School. Scordo said he would look into it.

Asked if a written note would serve as a waiver of liability, Gross said it wouldn’t stop any potential liability issues.

Board members were sympathetic. President Joe Fusaro said he understood, but that the district couldn’t be asked to break the law.

Trustee Dan Ciccone reminded audience members of the many times parents had suggested cutting busing during the difficult budget discussion during the Spring, only to ask for accommodations now.

Another resident said she was tired of hearing about staff reductions, and chided board members about what she perceived to be a lack of frugality in the past. “We don’t need to hear it 50 times in an evening. We’re all taking cuts."