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RSU 73 highlights bus‑safety, new propane bus and programs to support students
Summary
Board members praised drivers for Transportation Safety Week, showed a new propane bus with cameras, discussed a shortage of bus monitors, reported special‑transportation counts including McKinney‑Vento students, and described student supports like a free book fair and sneaker drive.
Board members used their reports to highlight transportation and student‑support efforts across RSU 73.
Norma, the district’s transportation lead (speaker 6), thanked drivers for their work during Transportation Safety Week and invited board members to view a newly delivered propane bus equipped with front and rear cameras and enhanced lighting. Norma said the bus’s cameras remain on for several seconds after doors close to ensure the area is clear and noted that all new Bluebird buses will include similar standard features.
She provided detailed special‑transportation counts: 13 out‑of‑district students on four vans (destinations included New Gloucester, Monmouth, Auburn, Lewiston and Rumford) and several local special‑transportation runs across primary, elementary, middle and high school levels, including students who use wheelchairs. Norma also noted the district transports five McKinney‑Vento students and explained the district covers 50% in some cross‑district arrangements.
Board members and staff discussed bus behavior and driver support. Several members said student behavior on buses has changed over recent years and recommended additional training, awareness and operational changes rather than policy rewrites. Norma said ideal bus runs (for safety and behavior management) would be shorter but that financial constraints make adding runs infeasible.
Patrick (speaker 8) described school‑level community efforts that support students: a free book fair that distributed roughly 2,500 books, a sneaker drive collecting sizes 2–9 for students who need footwear for physical education, digital‑citizenship presentations for students and parents, and upcoming Veterans Day events. Board members thanked volunteers and staff involved in those efforts.
The reports underscored operational pressures (staffing and substitute shortages) and the district’s emphasis on safety, training and community supports rather than immediate policy changes.
