HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-19-STAS-min Ad Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday January 19, 2012 at 9am
Town Hall Room G-15
Present: Elaine Celi (LPS Transportation Coordinator),Judy Crocker (Chair),
MaryEllen Dunn (LPS Assistant Superintendent for Finance &Business), Captain
Manual Ferro (LPD), Sharon Kendall, Craig Weeks
Absent: Martin Cohen, Deb Mauger
Liaisons:Jessie Steigerwald (School Committee)
Guests: Bonnie Brown
1. The meeting minutes of January 5 were unanimously approved (motioned by
Mr.Weeks, seconded by Captain Ferro).
2. Handouts:
• Updated membership contact information
• Scheduled monthly meeting calendar
• Fact sheet listing school bus transportation websites and trade publications
• Jan 18 article from the Needham Patch "Parents Reject Bus Fee Increase"
• Dec 2011 article from the Florida legislature Office of Program Policy
Analysis and Government Accountability"Some States Allow School Districts
to Charge Parents for School Bus Transportation or to Advertise in or on
School Buses to raise Additional Revenue"
• Jan 18 article from the National School Transportation Association "Students
Say Bye-bye to Buses"
3. Jan 17th School Committee meetingLAn overview of the meeting was
discussed. In addition to STS making a motion to the School Committee for
subsidized busing for Estabrook students during construction, so had the
Estabrook Task Force, Sidewalk Committee, and the Safe Routes To School
PTA representatives.All motions pointed directly to student safety.
Following a discussion,the School Committee agreed that these motions
would be their third priority for additional funding in the school's 2012-13
budget. The Superintendent will present his final budget proposal at the Jan
31 School Committee meeting.
4. Safe Routes To School: SRTS will hold an art and slogan contest for LPS
students in an ongoing effort toward increasing school bus ridership.The
"What's the fuss,just take the bus" Contest will accept entries from 2/10-29.
Multiple winners will receive a gift certificate from local merchants.Winners
will be chosen during the March 8th meeting of the SRTS PTA representatives.
The winning slogans and artwork will be used on informational fliers,
posters, and buttons beginning this spring.
5. Draft Action items: The conversation continued regarding delineating the
Committee's charge into workable action items. The discussion included:
• Bus cost: At this time, given that a new bus contract is being
developed, data is not available to perform a proper cost analysis for
new bus fee price points. Regarding Estabrook,the incremental cost of
including two additional buses is roughly$150,000/year.The new
contract will come with new expectations of service, such as
reconfigured bus routes, in the effort of providing a more efficient and
cost-effective service.
• Mr.Weeks suggested a town-wide transportation system and
discussed the earlier 2011 Globe article on town walkability.
• Parent expectations of bus service: Comments were made regarding
how this new service must be accepted by parents in order to operate
effectively. The discussion points included the cost of parent behavior,
managing the "craziness" taking place during schools' arrival and
dismissal, "change" expectations, and alignment of these expectations.
The end product will center on changing behavior with a mutli-
faceted educational campaign.A cultural change is needed,tying in
with the LPS Site Council's pro-social directives and Open Circle
curriculum. Parents need to teach by example, starting by looking in
the mirror.
• It was suggested that an open discussion involving elementary
principles should take place in order to determine their priorities and
identify what they need in order to feel supported. Ms. Crocker had
met with the majority of LPS principals last July seeking this
preliminary information.
• Captain Ferro explained the legal issues of enforcing laws on school
grounds versus public ways. On school property,the LPD can enforce
town by-laws and state law. By-laws are adopted through the Board of
Selectmen. School policies are a separate matter.
• Other civic groups which would possibly welcome a discussion on
with the STS on school transportation issues include Chinese
Americans of Lexington (CAL), Rotary, Lions, Scouts, Senior Center/
Council on Aging (COA), Preschool Association of Lexington (PALS).
• How to best reach-out to parents regarding the proposed new level of
expectations for school transportation centered on Ms. Brown's
suggestion for a mandatory meeting for those parents who will be
personally transporting their students, instead of using the bus,
walking, or biking. Ideas included affixing a decal to the rear car
window once parents were checked-off as understanding the new
rules and creating a "Top Ten"things to do correctly (and a conversely
what not to do).
6. Assignments:
• LWV First Friday Forum- Ms. Steigerwald and Ms. Crocker
• School based issues - Ms. Kendall
• Safety&traffic calming- Captain Ferro
• Cost- Ms. Dunn, Ms.Celi, and Mr.Weeks
7. Meeting adjourned at 10:45am.
The next meeting will be on February 2, 2012 at 9am in the Town Hall Room G-
15. Ms. Steigerwald will serve as secretary.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Crocker