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Parents and transportation staff raise safety concerns after reported overcrowded buses at away meets
Summary
Parents and a transportation employee reported overcrowded buses for spring track meets where students were reported sitting on laps and standing in aisles; the superintendent said he would investigate and the board requested a report at the next meeting.
Parents and transportation staff used public comment at the May 11 meeting to describe what they said were unsafe conditions on buses transporting students to spring sports meets.
Jennifer Christiansen, a parent and track booster, said the high school has had repeated bus shortages for away meets and described students "sitting on each other's laps and sitting on the ground" on a trip to Marshwood during rain and fog. "I can't even imagine the calamity if there had been an accident," she said.
Jennifer Marshall, a transportation employee and union representative, confirmed the issue has been raised with transportation and said the problem "is huge" and "does absolutely need to be addressed." She noted that district and contracted buses can be configured differently and that capacity counts often assume a mix of elementary and older students.
Another parent, Connie DeSanto, described reports of students standing in aisles and urged the board to explain how it will prevent injury given that standing during transport is not permitted and drivers are tested to account for safe sightlines and passenger placement.
Superintendent (addressing public comment) said he had not previously heard of those specific instances and pledged to investigate the reports "tomorrow" and to follow up with the parents and the board. Board members asked that the superintendent report back at the next meeting and signaled interest in reviewing transportation policies that limit parents from driving other families’ students to events.
