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Sachem transportation chief reports improvements but ongoing late mini‑bus routes; board presses for faster fixes for special‑needs students
Summary
Transportation supervisor John Gennari updated the board on routes, safety and recent service issues: Sachem runs roughly 200 daily routes, reported a 99% DOT inspection pass rate, but has seen 90 minibus route additions and many last‑minute changes this school year, prompting board concern about delays impacting students with IEPs.
The Sachem Board of Education heard a detailed update on Sept. 17 from transportation staff about continuing bus‑route problems and the district’s response. "We run approximately 75 contracted big buses, 28 Sachem District big buses, and approximately a 100 contracted mini buses. That's a little over 200 bus routes that are on the road every day," John Gennari, the district’s transportation representative, told the board.
Why it matters: Board members pressed staff about punctuality and safety for special‑education students who ride minibuses and often have IEP timing requirements. Parents have complained that minibuses arrive late or that routes changed after school began.
What the district reported: Gennari said Sachem buses passed New York State Department of Transportation inspections this year at a 99% rate (the state’s acceptable benchmark is 90%). He described improved communications with contractors and internal tools the department has introduced, including a shared "change spreadsheet" to track additions/deletions/corrections, and a Google form the district is rolling out to standardize late‑bus requests from buildings.
Ongoing problems and causes: Transportation staff reported a surge of routing changes since the start of school: roughly 90 additions to minibus service since late August, 10 IEP requirement changes, more than 20 address changes and over a dozen school‑assignment changes. Construction and road closures in neighborhoods and gated communities have also lengthened routes, Gennari said.
Board reaction and directions: Several board members, including Jessica (last name not supplied) and Meredith (last name not supplied), pressed for faster turnaround on safety‑related stop changes. Jessica asked whether the district could work with Suffolk County police on traffic mitigation or crossing guards; staff said crossing guards are hired by the county and that the district relies on drivers’ on‑the‑ground feedback.
Board members asked for more and faster communication to affected families; Gennari described the formal chain (driver→supervisor/dispatcher→district) and recommended targeted messages through ParentSquare. A board member asked to see the district’s timeliness data; Gennari agreed to share it to allow board members a second set of eyes for vendor follow‑up.
Capacity and staffing: The district said many minibuses carried more students than preferred early in the year because contractors were short drivers; onboarding additional drivers and splitting routes are planned once personnel are in place. Staff stated the typical desirable load on a minibus is nine to ten students; some vans have been temporarily above that level while routes are adjusted.
Next steps: The district will roll out the Google form to buildings, continue to use the change spreadsheet for tracking, and provide the board with timeliness data. Multiple trustees urged the administration to accelerate safety‑related route changes where feasible and keep parents informed while also balancing safety and logistics.
