By Melissa Fales
Reporter
Policy allows bus drivers’ children to ride on school bus
At the Sept. 14 School Committee meeting, Chairman Christopher Desjardins shared that a concerned parent had contacted him with concerns about a First Student school bus driver who had three of her own children on the bus with her. The parent questioned whether the presence of the three children would be distracting to the driver and whether or not the bus was already overcrowded with students. Desjardins said Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach had brought up the concern with a First Student representative, who explained that their company policy allows their school bus drivers to have up to three of their own children riding with them. Additionally, the bus in question is not at its total capacity for students, so the driver’s children are not causing an overcrowding situation. Beach added that there are five First Student bus drivers in Ware who have their own children riding with them, for a total of seven children. Committee member Aaron Sawabi explained that it is a common practice across the state for bus drivers’ children to ride with them.
Policy Subcommittee working on a set of operating norms for the committee
One of the goals the committee set for itself for the 2011-2012 school year is to create a set of operating norms, stating how the committee will conduct its meetings, how the members will relate to one another, and how the members will communicate with each other, the public, and the media. “We want ownership of this,” said Policy Subcommittee Chair Danielle Souza. To help get the committee started on the list of norms, the Policy Subcommittee presented some operating norms established by another Massachusetts school committee to use as a guideline. The committee will discuss the use of operating norms with a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees at their training session scheduled for Sept. 19. They will also discuss the norms at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 28.
Beach plans for anticipated expenses
Beach said she and her leadership team met recently to identify some of the challenges the district will be facing this school year. One concern is the loss of seven computers from school computer labs. Another is the boiler at Ware Junior Senior High School, which is in need of repair. Beach said the repairs will cost approximately $20,000 and will be funded with the insurance money the district will be receiving for winter storm damage.
Cost-cutting measures discussed
Souza asked whether the district might consider imposing a limit of one student handbook per family due to the cost of printing the booklets. “If you have three or four students in school, you’re getting three or four of these,” Souza explained. “We’re trying to pinch pennies, here.” Desjardins said having the handbook available for download would be an even better option since there would be no cost. The committee discussed the possible use of electronic versions, although parents would still be required to sign a paper stating that they have received it. Sawabi said he considered the expense of printing paper handbooks “a legitimate cost of doing business.” Beach offered to run the numbers to see how much of a savings the district would generate if each family with children in the district received only one handbook. She will report her findings back to the committee.
