Norwich parents, students raise safety concerns after district switches to group bus stops

Dozens of Norwich residents, students and school officials pressed the Norwich Board of Education on Sept. 9 over safety and access after the district moved many students to consolidated “group” bus stops and required families to opt in to transportation. Parents said steep hills, unlit intersections and busy roads force children to walk long distances early in the morning and sometimes stand in unsafe locations.

The board heard roughly 30 public comments on the subject; many urged the district to restore prior stops or make targeted exceptions. “I am a homeowner in Norwich … I’m here today to advocate for my daughter’s bus transportation,” parent Veil Alyssias told the board during public comment. Student Miriam Ismail, a sixth grader at Kelley Middle School, said older students’ behavior on buses had made younger riders feel unsafe: “The bus should be a safe place where all students feel respected and secure on their way to and from school.” Several other parents described children having to stand at busy intersections before sunrise and said sidewalks are absent on many routes.

Superintendent Susan Lessard acknowledged the difficulties families raised and described the policy under which the district made changes. “We…