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District tightens bus seating rules after reported overcrowding on Hillside route
Summary
Superintendent Camille said district transportation reviewed rosters and reminded drivers and schools about seating expectations after a community report about an overcrowded bus; the district said current rosters are appropriate and asked that residents report safety concerns immediately.
Superintendent Camille told the Manchester School Committee on Jan. 27 that transportation staff reviewed an incident report about alleged overcrowding on a Hillside-area bus and took immediate steps to reinforce safety rules.
The district said the transportation team reviewed rosters for the route and across the system, confirmed that assigned rosters are appropriate for current routes, and reminded drivers and schools of seat-and-safety expectations.
"Students seated in a seat, that's an expectation of both students and the driver," Superintendent Camille said, listing rules including no saving seats, no blocking aisles with feet, and no standing while the bus is in motion. She asked community members to report safety concerns promptly so the district can respond the same day.
Background and district action
District leaders said home-to-school transportation is an internal district function and that the department has grown its driver complement and fleet, adding full-size and smaller handicapped-accessible buses. Administration said it is working to expand in-district specialized transportation to manage costs and meet student needs.
The superintendent said that when students are standing or a bus is over capacity, drivers are instructed to hold or slow a route until the situation is resolved; in some cases the district may run an additional loop to reduce on-board counts while preserving service.
No formal board action was taken; the administration described the review and next steps.
