JOHNSTON – A large crowd is expected at the Sept 8 Johnston School Committee meeting due to frustration with extensive busing issues, prompting a change in venue.
The school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at the Johnston Senior High School to accommodate a larger-than-normal anticipated crowd.
“We appreciate the public’s understanding and look forward to welcoming community members to the meeting,” said school officials.
On the agenda for the meeting is a presentation from Zum Student Transportation, the company that has faced intense criticism for its poor performance since taking over the district’s busing this year.
A community rally is planned for before Tuesday’s meeting, to be held from 2 to 4 p.m. outside Town Hall.
“Change happens when people come together – and there is strength in numbers,” states an announcement from organizers. “We encourage Johnston families, educators, community members, and everyone who cares about the future of our schools to attend and make their voices heard.”
Since there is no school Tuesday, they said they anticipate many families attending with their children.
In addition to an independent investigation into the busing situation, they’re also calling for transparency on the hiring of the current superintendent.
Zum representatives and school officials have spent days working on ways to resolve busing issues, which have led to hours-long delays and extensive congestion in the parking lot at the new consolidated elementary school.
Supt. Scott Sutherland has said he “directed Zum Transportation to completely redesign elementary school bus routes.”
“Through the weekend and today, our district team has remained in close communication with Zum, including hourly meetings today, to review the new routes, timing, capacity and implementation plan,” he wrote last week.
Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. said on Sept. 1 that he is utterly disgusted with the busing company and is very disappointed with he management of the crisis by the School Department thus far.
“It’s been almost a week. As the mayor, I have no legal authority over the School Department itself, but I would have taken more immediate, aggressive and corrective actions than you have seen,” he said. “It is clear Zum does not have the ability to provide safe and effective transportation to the students. Their contract should be terminated immediately. That is a decision the district needs to make.”
He added, “However, I will continue to support the district’s families, who I also represent, and have made sure the town’s resources that I do control, especially the Police Department, are available to assist the district.”
He said he expects the School Committee to take whatever action is necessary and hold those responsible accountable.
Zum’s website describes how districts across the country are avoiding the transportation anxiety crisis by choosing them. They report that 39 percent of parents across the country report that their child has arrived late to school due to transportation issues, and 54 percent of parents report that their child has expressed worry or concern about using school transportation.
