Student Transportation: Safe, Reliable, Equitable
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Safe, Reliable, and Equitable Student Transportation
Every family in SOMSD deserves the peace of mind that their child will get to and from school safely and on time. Unfortunately, year after year, families continue to face late buses, missed stops, confusing routes, and communication breakdowns. This is more than an inconvenience, it creates stress, disrupts learning, and, most importantly, undermines trust.
We also need to acknowledge the student experience: long, unpredictable bus rides, missed pickups, or being the last child dropped off can create real stress and anxiety for children. No student should start or end their school day feeling unsafe, worried, or forgotten.
As a candidates for the Board of Education, we believe we must rebuild trust by putting students and families first in our transportation system. That means:
Prioritizing Safety: No child should walk unsafe routes or spend hours on a bus. Routes must be designed and audited with student well-being at the center.
Clear and Compassionate Communication: Parents and schools should never be left in the dark. We need live tracking, timely notifications, and responsive communication channels.
Accountability and Reliability: The district must set measurable standards, such as on-time targets and maximum ride times, and hold vendors and in-house teams to those commitments.
Equity at the Core: Families who rely on transportation should have the same reliable access to school as those who can drive, walk, or bike, ensuring transportation supports integration and opportunity for all.
Safe, efficient, and equitable transportation is not optional. It’s fundamental to a district that families can rely on and students can thrive in.
Transportation safety cannot be separated from broader traffic, road safety in our two towns. In recent years, our community has seen serious traffic incidents near SOMSD schools that have directly impacted the safety of parents, caregivers, and students. Addressing these concerns requires more than district action alone—it means working hand-in-hand with our municipal partners in Maplewood and South Orange. Leveraging channels like the Municipal Partners Committee is critical to coordinating on issues like crossing guards, traffic calming, and safe walking routes.
