School Buses

Watertown Schools Looking at 3 Busing Options, One Could Raise Fees $100

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Depending on which school busing option the School Committee adopts, transportation fees could remain the same as this year or increase by as much as $100, and not all students wanting to be transported is guaranteed a spot. The decision will be made with the help of college students participating in a “hack-a-thon.” The School Committee received an update on planning for busing during the 2018-19 school year on Monday night. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mary DeLai said the district will enter a five year bus contract if the Town Council gives its approval Tuesday night, but the schedule will change from the current year because the high school and middle school are starting later next fall. Three options will be considered, DeLai said, with different numbers of buses and possibly requiring students to wait after school for the bus to arrive after school.

Schools

School Committee Approves School Bus Contract, Working With College on Routes

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Monday night, the School Committee approved a five year school bus contract, which will only rise three percent over the term of the contract. Most times, the District signs a three year contract, but the winning bidder (and current contract holder), Local Motion, offered incentives for two additional years, said Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. State law requires the contract to also get the approval of the Town Council, because it more than three years. The current contract ends on June 30, 2018. Local Motion and Eastern Bus Co.

Schools

School Day Starting Later at One School, Bus Added After School

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In an effort to reduce the amount of time students have to wait for buses after school at one Hosmer Elementary School the School Committee voted to start school later. 

Students routinely wait five to ten minutes for the bus to come to take them home, and at least once a bus was 20 minutes late. The three buses must make a run from the middle school, before picking up Hosmer students. In a move to give buses more time the School Committee voted to make the time change. They considered moving the time of both the Hosmer and Watertown Middle School, but decided to just change the elementary school’s schedule, said Superintendent Jean Fizgerald. “An alternative solution was to start 10 minutes later,” Fitzgerald said.

Schools

Watertown School Start Time Might Change So Buses Will be on Time

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The start of school may change next year at the two Watertown schools so that students do not have to endure long waits for the bus after school. 

Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the changes will be proposed as Watertown prepares to bid for a new school bus contract. To allow the buses to have more time, school officials have proposed starting school at Hosmer 10 minutes later, and start Watertown Middle School 10 minutes earlier. The same buses that deliver students to and from Hosmer also serve Watertown Middle School. While the mornings have gone well, the afternoons have been regularly late picking up Hosmer students after the afternoon run at the middle school. There are three buses serving both schools, and one bus has been at least five minutes late every day, and a second more than two-thirds of the time, including one day when it was more than 20 minutes late.