Busing, New Attendance Lines Lead Parents' Concerns Over School Consolidation

Members of a special task force to lead the way in researching the consolidation of Windsor's elementary schools met with parents of elementary-school children at Sage Park on Tuesday night during a special education forum.

The forum was designed to provide the parents of Windsor's elementary students with information about the proposal, known as Option G, and hear any questions about the plan.

Parents filled Sage Park's cafeteria willing to learn and eager to get their opportunity to hear responses to their concerns, and they had many.

Chief among those concerns were the busing of school children and the new attendance lines that will be drawn.

For many parents in attendance the extension of already-long bus rides is a concern, particularly for students who are currently being bussed to the opposite side of town. Students residing on the southern end and East Granby line currently have some of the longest bus rides.

Bus rides are also a concern for parents like Di Raymond whose four children go to school together at Poquonock Elementary. Like many parents, when Raymond purchased her home, she took into account which school her children would go to. If Option G is passed, the oldest of Raymond's children would no longer attend Poquonock; they would be bussed across town to Clover Street.

For Raymond, busing her oldest children across town would carry a load of additional problems: scheduling and safety.

Raymond addressed members of the board of education last night, stating that sending her children to different schools, while attempting to schedule schools to start at the same time, would create a staggered bus schedule, which leaves her to worry about her kindergarten student who would be waiting for a bus without her older siblings.

"We want to know our kids our safe... I don't want my daughter standing by herself waiting for the bus," said Raymond, who said she often stands with her daughter to wait for the bus.

But, according to Raymond, sending her children to different schools at different times would not allow her the the scheduling freedom to tend to each of her students the way she currently does. Staggered bus schedules would force parents like herself to find someone to be at home while her children are waiting for the bus, she said.

Superintendent Elizabeth Feser spoke, assuring those in attendance that there would be no significant changes to the bus schedule. According to Feser, there are currently multiple busses that take students to school — kindergarten students are bussed separately from other students because they are picked up from their home instead of a bus stop. According to Feser, that will not change.

Board Member Cristina Santos said that the parents' concerns would be taken into account and would be taken to the district's transportation specialist. She also said that the plan, if approved, would not go into effect until scholastic year 2012.

While parents expressed concerns over potential staffing cuts, the quality of school their child would be sent to, and the effects of having their child change schools in the third grade, board members attempted to calm concerns by saying that change is always met with resistance.

Feser cited redistricting that took place in the early 90's in which Windsor's attendance lines were redrawn to even out racial distribution in schools. The result was having students living near Matianuck Avenue, who attended Kennedy, bussed to attend Poquonock Elementary. There was a great deal of resistance to the change of attendance lines, but, Feser argued, it was in the best interest of the district and so is Option G.

Board Member Christopher Watts spoke to the audience, saying that Option G is the best chance for the district to get full-day kindergarten classes, which has been proved to be critical to early-childhood education.

The next educational forum on the proposed consolidation will be held on Wed., March 9 from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at John F. Kennedy.