Letter: Bus issues began before COVID, parents deserve answers
March 15, 2021
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To the Editor:
I would like to offer my insight into the views of Shelton Alderman Anthony Simonetti in his letter dated March 9. He states: “The recent short comings and criticisms of the SSTS are, however, not fair nor deserved.” The criticism is deserved, and every resident should be demanding answers.
Issues with the buses started before COVID. Service has been a problem since the BOE was forced to accept the city as their transportation supplier. When the city started in July 2019, bus drivers were driving their runs without having been properly vetted and drug tested. The first day of school in September 2019 was delayed because the city did not have enough drivers. Bus runs were overcrowded with students sitting in the aisles. There was an incident where a driver was pulled over, with kids on the bus, and removed for being drunk. There were times in 2019 where the students waited at the bus stop and parents called multiple times to hear that the buses were on the way and the buses never showed. Last month, there was no bus service after a weekend snowstorm because the city failed to plow the bus yard.