Mom to Board of Ed: “I don’t want my seven year old daughter to be hit by a car.”

At last month’s Board of Education meeting, parents spoke out to complain about changes in the bus stops made by M&J Bus Co., the town’s new school bus company. Before last night’s meeting, a hearing was held to answer charges by one concerned parent who is so dissatisfied with bus service this year that she has been forced to drive her daughter to and from
school each day.

Lynda Kennedy, who lives at 10 Jersey Dr., appeared in front of school superintendent Dr. Robert Cronin, assistant superintendent Patricia Brozek, vice chairman of the Board of Education Stephen DiCapua and two Board of Education members to state her case. She said the school bus that transports her seven year old daughter, Hope, to Montowese Elementary School, doesn’t travel down the cul-de-sac in front of her house, but stops at the corner of Jersey Dr. and Summer Ln. 

She said buses traveled down the cul-de-sac for the past twelve years but stopped this year, after M&J Bus Co. began service.

“The new bus company is saving money, but safety disappeared,” she said. “I don’t want my seven year old daughter to be hit by a car.”

Brozek, speaking in response to Kennedy’s charges, said Kennedy’s request for a change in service was denied by the town because drivers are no longer permitted to drive down cul-de-sacs. They can be ticketed and have points put on their license if they do.

But Kennedy said buses are traveling down other town cul-de-sacs, including Longview Dr. and Todd Drive. She also said they are picking up a high school student near her house, but Dr. Cronin said that is because the student is disabled and requires special care.

DiCapua deflected some of charges Kennedy brought against the town for not returning her calls, saying they don’t pertain to the school bus stop issue. The Board of Education will act on that issue and render a decision within five days, he said.

When asked whether she thinks the decision will go in her favor, Kennedy said, “They’re going to deny it.”

In the meantime, she has been driving her daughter to and from school.

“She’s paying taxes, she shouldn’t have to do it,” her mother, Joan St John said. She appeared at the hearing with her husband, Anthony, and spoke in support of her daughter.

School transportation coordinator Joseph Piscitelli prepared the town’s response to Kennedy’s charges but was unable to attend last night’s meeting.

Editors note: The article has been updated to clarify comments made by Lynda Kennedy.