STOUGHTON – Stoughton Public Schools officials announced in an email to families that they will no longer be able to provide transportation to 150 students for the upcoming school year after being forced to cancel one of their school buses.
One parent whose child was affected by the cuts said the decision had caused panic among families.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” said Christina Marie, whose youngest child will be a freshman at Stoughton High School.
“We live three miles from the school and on Route 138. I have no intention of having our son walk down that road before sunrise just to get to school on time.”
Affected families were notified of the cut in an email from school administrators on August 14. The first day of school for all Stoughton Public Schools students is Wednesday, September 4, leaving families less than a month to make alternative arrangements.
“We are angry because they did not prepare us for this sooner,” said Marie. “They have abandoned 150 children and I want to know why?”
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Why was school bus service discontinued?
According to the email, the decision to cancel one of the school buses was justified by a lack of funds.
“The school district budget for fiscal year 2025 had to absorb $2.3 million in cuts from the previous year,” school officials wrote. “As part of the budget cuts, we had to eliminate one school bus,” they continued.
According to this email, the decision was made to use the funds primarily to “keep teachers in the classroom.”
They further wrote that their only option was to avoid the school bus.
“We have reviewed and considered every possible option (including creating new routes) to provide transportation options for all prospective students,” they wrote.
Due to the cancellation of a school bus, 150 students had to do without a means of transportation in the fall.
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Schools inform families on Friday morning
The superintendent of Stoughton Public Schools could not be reached for comment at the time of publication of this article.
According to Stoughton Public Schools spokesman Jeffrey Pickette, the district will send a message to families Friday morning.
A virtual meeting will be scheduled early next week where families can get more information and ask questions, he said. Details of the virtual meeting will be announced on Friday.
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Who is entitled to bus transportation under Massachusetts law?
According to the Massachusetts Department of Education’s transportation policy, all students in grades K-6 who live more than two miles from their school and more than one mile from the nearest school bus stop are eligible for free transportation to and from public schools. All students in grades K-12 who attend regional schools (which Stoughton does not qualify for) are also eligible.
What are the school bus rules in Stoughton?
Stoughton Public Schools declares that it complies with state regulations regarding student transportation and provides free transportation to students in grades K-6 who live more than two miles from the school they are authorized to attend, in accordance with the school’s transportation policy and guidelines.
According to school policy, all families, including those with children who are guaranteed transportation, must submit a bus application to secure a seat on the bus.
