Buses put back on the roads
Published on September 23rd, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Parents got the action they had been hoping for on Tuesday night when the Board of Selectmen agreed to appropriate money in order to restore busing to students. Buses are again expected to be rolling toward area schools within the month.
A packed Town Hall Hearing Room was on hand to hear the statements of parents and school and town officials regarding the subject which has been a point of criticism ever since the School Committee voted on their $16.7 million 1998-99 school year budget which excluded bus services.
Tuesday night, Officer Richard Duonolo told the selectmen that action must be taken.
"I agree with the parents whole heartedly," Duonolo, the town's safety officer, said of the busing issue. "This town comes up with thousands and thousands of dollars. I don't know how this town can't come up with $85,000 to get the kids to school safely."
Duonolo, who, along with the town's 23 traffic directors, is charged with getting students to school safely, said that his job has become nearly impossible this school year.
"I don't have the personnel," he told the board. "There's a problem out there. It's absolutely crazy."
School Superintendent Joseph Connelly explained that, while he supports the funding to restore busing for the current school year, he and the School Committee will do so with the expectation that the town will not be able to do so next year. Due to another rise in the cost of education next year and the already increasing debt in the School Department in the current school year, he said, the department will most assuredly not be able to afford busing next year.
Another reason for this stance, he said, is the rise that is likely in the cost of busing; the $86,000 that busing would cost this year is expected to rise to $129,000 to $160,000 next year due to new contracts by bus driver and an increase in enrollment.
"The School Committee thinks it's (the funding) a wonderful idea and wants to see busing return," Connelly said. "It's very important for people to know that the School Committee is not opposed to busing, but, in the budget, it just couldn't be afforded."
Board member John Biggio said he was somewhat opposed to the idea of the School Department coming back to ask for more money when many other town departments have similar needs.
"Where does it stop when the School Committee stops putting all the burden on this side of the table," he said, speaking of the municipal departments. "Next year, it's going to get tighter and they're going to come back and try to take it from the municipal side again."
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting told the audience that actions must be taken now to ensure that there is a resolution for busing next year.
"In the long run, there has to be a game plan," he said. "In the long run, there has to be a fundamental decision made about the future of public education in Stoneham."
Parents seemed receptive to the idea of sharing the cost of busing services with the School Department as do the towns of Melrose, Reading, Wakefield and Winchester.
Board Chairman Albert Conti told the gathering that, if the issue were to come before the board again next year, the outcome would likely be different.
"Frankly, I'm not going to support it next year," he said. "I'll tell you that right now."
Connelly said that the Vocell Bus Company would be contacted and work on the list of students to be transported would begin immediately. He said it would likely take two to three weeks for service to be restored.
A budget article will be presented for Special Town Meeting vote likely along with another article prepared by parents requesting that the funds be used for busing purposes.
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