Several Turner residents addressed the board during public comment, asking the RSU 52/MSAD 52 School Board to allow transportation to a daycare site located just outside the Turner town line.

Tom Petrella, who identified himself as a Turner resident, said his family and several other families are using Bright Ideas, a daycare located about a half mile outside Turner's town boundary, because licensed openings in town are either full or highly restricted. "We urge the board to make an exception to support the working families who depend on this transportation," Petrella said, adding that families are unable to move into Turner daycares because no openings exist.

Petrella and at least two other residents asked the board and the transportation director to consider a written policy permitting busing to daycares near but outside town lines, or to permit case‑by‑case exceptions where the pickup point is within a short distance of the current route. The petitioners said Bright Ideas sits within sight of a district turnaround and that other families within one mile of existing bus routes might face similar access barriers.

Administration response and next steps

Board and district staff acknowledged the request and asked for data. Petrella said district transportation staff (he had spoken with Jim, the district's transportation director) asked him to compile use and address information, and he said he would share that information with administration. The board did not take a vote on a policy during the meeting.

Why this matters

Board members noted that exceptions to bus routes have been rare historically and that state and district rules determine who is eligible for regular bus service. Petitioners framed the request as a means to support working families and enable access to care; administrators said they would review the operational and liability implications with transportation staff and the town and return with options.

Provenance and evidence

Public comments on the topic were recorded in the meeting transcript during the public comment portion of the agenda (see provenance segment). Petrella and two other Turner residents described their efforts to secure daycare inside town and urged a district policy or exception for bordering daycare sites.

Ending

District staff asked the families to deliver compiled information about addresses and ridership needs; administrators said they would investigate operational feasibility and potential policy language and report back to the board.