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Parent says new private‑school bus route creates long rides; board cites law and budget limits
Summary
A parent raised alarm about a revised private‑school bus route that would delay children’s return times to Shelter Island until about 4:45 p.m.; Superintendent Brian Doelger cited Education Law (EL 3635) guidance on allowable travel time and told the parent the district lacks funds to add a separate bus.
During the visitor‑questions portion of the Aug. 26 meeting, parent Katie Springer said a recently issued private‑school bus route for students attending Our Lady of the Hamptons would extend afternoon return times to the Island by roughly an hour, meaning students could arrive around 4:45 p.m. Springer said that schedule was "unsatisfactory" and argued "a two-hour bus ride without a bathroom is unreasonable for a kindergarten student."
Superintendent Brian Doelger responded that the district had been seeking route information from contracted providers all summer and read guidance from Education Law (EL 3635) explaining that districts often combine trips and that in some circumstances longer trips have been found reasonable by the Commissioner. He said the district had considered lower‑cost alternatives but lacks funding for a separate bus to serve Our Lady of the Hamptons and noted the district must balance economy and safety when arranging nonpublic transportation. Mrs. Jennifer Rylott added that the district could not use the county bus for this service.
