By JEFF EPSTEIN
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WESTMINSTER, Vt. — Schools are off and running on a new school year, the school board agreed Tuesday, but not without a few glitches. School officials concede that some parents are upset at schedule changes for starting times this year, and bus schedules that are apparently an awkward fit for students and parents alike.
At Tuesday’s meeting, parents Ian Sbardellati and Andrea Carlson told the board that they received notice of the new school opening times only the day before. It came as a “surprise,” Sbardellati said, and it affects the time needed to drop off students in the morning. Also, said Carlson, having staff on hand to receive the students would help.
Doug Kussus, principal of the Westminster Center School, acknowledged a “communications breakdown.” He said he intended to have the new times explained in a mailing to parents over the summer, but for whatever reason that did not happen. As to staffing at the opening times, that was dependent on a grant for staff that has since been lost, he said. “Staff is stretched as much as they can,” he added.
Board members Cheryl Charles and Elise Manning later said that although errors can happen, both the board and the staff could do a better job at improving communications to parents and the public.
Sbardellati also mentioned bus schedules that, depending on the route, can have children on the bus in transit as long as an hour.
“Doug and I met last week about this,” said Superintendent Chris Pratt. The schedule is fixed for the current year, but can be adjusted next year, he said. “My intention is … looking at all bus routes” for next year, perhaps with the advice of a consultant.
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