RSU 38 lays out hub-and-transfer bus plan for pre-K and kindergarten

RSU 38 Transportation Director Jason Seriois presented a detailed transportation plan for the 2026–27 school year that consolidates pre-K and kindergarten at Readfield and Manchester Elementary and relies on supervised hub-and-transfer logistics at Wayne and Mount Vernon.

"For the 2026–2027 school year, pre-K and kindergarten will be at two sites, Readfield and Manchester Elementary," Seriois said, and described a four-step morning and afternoon routing model in which community buses follow existing pickup patterns, converge at elementary hub sites where staff will assist transfers, and a dedicated pre-K/kindergarten bus carries the youngest students directly to Readfield.

Seriois emphasized safety and supervision: "No child will be left unsupervised at any point during the transfer process." He also said routing is iterative: routes will be finalized through the summer and may change during the year as enrollment shifts.

Parents asked practical questions during the public Q&A. When asked whether pre-K and kindergarteners would ride with older students, Seriois said community routes can include grades pre-K through 12, but after the elementary transfer only pre-K and kindergarten would be on the dedicated bus.

On ride time, Seriois said the district's goal is to keep no child on a bus more than 45 minutes; he noted one current route reaches 47 minutes because of location and stops, and that route design weighs safety of stop locations. On the question of a dedicated bus monitor, he said there will not be a permanent monitor at this time; the district will use spare drivers to jump on buses when available to provide additional supervision.

Seriois concluded that the district will notify families once routes are finalized and invited families to contact him directly with individual circumstances.