Parents, councilors press Woburn schools to restore bus stops after last-minute route changes

Dozens of parents and city officials urged the Woburn School Committee on Sept. 9 to restore or add bus stops after last-minute enforcement of the district—s transportation policy left students without safe walking routes.

The complaints focused on neighborhoods served by Goodyear and Linscott elementaries and on stops near Pearl Street and the Westgate Apartments. Parent Megan Bowers said Linscott families found out too late that routes had changed and described the opening day as chaotic: "What a sad sad way to start the school year." She added that streets near Westgate lack sidewalks and that drivers often ignore speed limits.

City Councilor Rob Toro, who said he is also a parent affected by the changes, told the committee the timing and manner of enforcement created real hardship for working families: "Just because we have a policy doesn't mean the policy is good. This should be a time where we're looking at the policy and identifying hazards and maybe changing the policy." Several other residents, including Theresa and Shane Lane Day, recounted close calls and mobility concerns, and Rachel Packard described a new bus stop location that requires students to cross Montvale Avenue "with no crosswalk, no crossing guard, and no flashing lights."

Superintendent Dr. Matthew Crowley told the committee the transportation notices went out on Aug. 20 after the district certified student data to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on Aug. 12. He said routes were adjusted to reflect redistricting and the district's 1.5-mile policy; students who were redistricted were prioritized. Crowley acknowledged gaps in outreach and accepted responsibility: "I will own the lack of communication relative to that. And so that's on me." He said the district has posted bus information, a Q&A, and a bus-stop request form on its website and urged parents to contact school principals as first responders for localized issues.

Committee members pressed for quicker fixes. Vice Chair Patricia Chisholm suggested temporary crossing guards where needed; member Andrew Lipsett asked the city for funding if additional buses or stops are required. Several school committee members and the superintendent described plans for immediate follow-up: Crowley said he toured affected routes with the transportation coordinator; principals and the bus company will be engaged; and Dr. Crowley said he has a principals' meeting scheduled the next morning to address operational problems.

Chair Colleen Cormier closed public comment by referring the matter to the committee—s Resources subcommittee for expedited review. "The committee is taking action by referring it to resources," she said, and Vice Chair Chisholm and member Jesse Wetzel said they would convene the subcommittee and invite affected families to participate.

The committee did not adopt any emergency changes to stops during the meeting. Several members urged fast action and said they expected the superintendent to report back to the Resources subcommittee and the full committee at the next meetings.

Why it matters: Transportation changes affect families' ability to get students safely to school and can disproportionally burden working parents, children with disabilities and neighborhoods lacking pedestrian infrastructure. The committee's referral opens a path for operational fixes but does not immediately restore any specific stops.

What's next: The Resources subcommittee will meet with the superintendent, building principals and the bus company; the district says it will consider stop requests posted on its website and use the bus-tracking app to monitor routes. The superintendent committed to update the committee and to prioritize safety in any short-term adjustments.