150 Stoughton students denied transport to school

Families in Stoughton are frustrated after more than 100 students did not receive a spot on the school bus this school year.

Stoughton Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Baeta announced Friday that 150 secondary school students won’t receive bus transportation to and from school. 

Families joined a virtual meeting Monday to discuss their concerns about getting their children to school starting Sept. 3. Many parents who spoke said they work during drop-off or pick-up. 

“I’m a single mom, so I have no option of picking him up, I don’t work from home, I have no other choice but to have him take the bus,” a mother of a sixth grader said at the meeting, according to Boston News 25.

A spokesperson for the district said more than 50 parents attended the meeting and “we appreciated being able to hear their concerns, as well their personal situations as it relates to busing.”

The district said they placed students on buses as their applications were received during the month-long enrollment period. With an increase in the number of students applying for spots this year, about 10% of students were turned away.

“We understand the feelings of disappointment and frustration this caused for the families who did not receive bus transportation,” Baeta wrote. “We feel it is important to explain this situation to all of our families to allow you to better understand how we arrived at this point.”

The district received 162 more applications this summer than the previous school year, granting transportation to 1,379 students out of 1,529 applications. SPS said all elementary school students who applied for bus transportation were placed on buses, but 75 middle schoolers and 75 high schoolers were not.  

The district said they are not required to transport students in seventh grade through 12th grade.

Middle and high school students living within a half mile of their school aren’t eligible for bus transportation as well, Baeta wrote.

“My daughter is on the (individual education plan) and I’m just concerned because having her walk anywhere, I mean, that’s a liability for everybody,” another mother said at the meeting, according to NBC10Boston. “I’m also, too, a working mom.”

Despite an increase in students needing bus transport, SPS is funding one less bus than the previous school year due to budget constraints, SPS said. The school district is operating two additional buses to transport students from hotels and shelters being used by the state’s emergency family shelter system, but those are paid for by the state.

“It is inaccurate to suggest that these children receiving busing is the reason yours did not,” Baeta wrote. “If we were not receiving the funding from the state for the students living in hotels/shelters, we would not be able to have these two additional buses.”

A spokesperson for the school said SPS is reviewing the bus lists for “any discrepancies” and will provide an update about further transportation next week.