“I’d love to know what happened after the last three or four months.” “We’re 14 board members chasing rabbits up and down the warrens here,” said O’Connell. Ward 10 BOSC Member Gary Hamer voiced frustration that there were no penalties referenced in the contract with STA, only an option to terminate it with due cause after 60 days’ notice, stating that STA should not be paid until the issue is resolved.Īt-Large BOSC Member Jim O’Connell, who voted against the contract, said that he was incensed not just over the incident, but over the fact that there seemed to be a lack of information over the summer on the issue and STA had no problem fulfilling its obligation to nearby suburban districts such as Bedford and Goffstown. However, most of the discussion centered upon a sense of anger against STA. “Every student deserves a safe and timely ride to extra-curricular activities,” said Craig. Ward 6 BOSC Member Ken Tassey recommended a policy providing more dry runs prior to the beginning of the school year to ensure the district’s busing capacity is ready.Ĭraig noted the expedited hiring efforts, the carpooling policy change proposal as well as Tassey’s recommendation. Ward 1 BOSC Member Julie Turner asked if MTA could handle more routes, with Gillis stating that they were at their limit. Ward 7 BOSC Member Chris Potter said more effort needed to be made to inform parents about the possibility of training to become a bus driver, with potentially using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) to offer bonuses.Ĭraig warned that such bonuses offered to STA drivers could cause MTA drivers to switch, just shifting the problem. Ward 5 BOSC Member Jason Bonilla asked Gillis what was behind the difficulty with hiring drivers, with Gillis stating that it was a mix of pay rates, training requirements and other factors. Some discussion revolved around resolving the issue. “There have been a lot of unfulfilled promises.” “We handed over all the information that they needed to be successful and we thought they were going to be,” said Hebert. Members of the BOSC had a universally negative reaction to STA, with Gillis and Manchester School District Transportation Coordinator Kelly O’Brien Hebert indicating that they had been informed by STA prior to the school year that they could fulfill the obligations under the contract they agreed upon. Attorney Katherine Cox-Pelletier mentioned the proposed policy change that would go before the BOSC Policy Committee next week, but Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig urged that the change be presented immediately. Normally the background check process takes three months, something Gillis said she is discussing with the state to shorten during this situation.ĭiscussion on suspension of the district’s carpooling policy was also mentioned, which would make it easier for parents to transport multiple students to after-school activities. She added that there are currently four applicants for those positions, and that the hiring process for those applicants can hopefully be expedited. Gillis informed the board that currently MTA has 26 bus drivers and STA has 13, with a minimum of four extra drivers needed at STA to address the problem, with more likely needed. Jenn Chmiel Gillis told the BOSC that she only just learned about the lack of STA bus drivers on Friday, which impacted charter school bus route coverage for Mills Falls Charter School, Founder’s Academy, Kreiva Academy, Holy Family Academy and Spark Academy. Manchester School District Superintendent Dr. – On Monday night, the Manchester Board of School Committee (BOSC) responded to concerns regarding a lack of bus drivers leaving some charter schools across the city without school bus coverage over the first week of school.ĭue to an inability of the Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) to continue providing school transportation for the entire Manchester School District, this summer a new contract was made allowing MTA half of the district’s route with the other half going to the private company School Transportation of America (STA).
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