School Board Changes Bus Policy in Response to Lawsuit

Westfield Public Schools will begin providing bus service for students at Roosevelt Intermediate School who live more than two miles from campus.

The change came after a state judge ruled the district had to provide the bus service following a lawsuit from a group of parents after the board redistricted students in several northside neighborhoods. Following the redistricting the district suspended the bus service.

Schools Superintenent Margaret Dolan said the new transportation policy will take effect in March for students who ask for it.

The district has sent letters offering bus service to 53 families, and as of Tuesday night's meeting, 23 said they want the bus, business administrator Robert Berman said.

Even if all the students opt for the service, the school should be able to add only one bus, which will cost about $30,000 a year, Berman said.

For this school year, from March until June, it will be about $12,000, he said.

He asked parents to reply by Feb. 8 whether or not they want their kids on the bus.

The district also amended its extracurricular activity policy, to clarify that extracurricular activities, including clubs and other associations, are open to students in district or that the district funds or partially funds their tuition to another school. The purpose is to include, for example, students with special needs who the district pays to attend a different school.

Both policies will be read again at a future board meeting and the board will have to formally approve them.

The next board meeting open to the public will be on Tuesday, Feb. 9.