Dear Parents,
As another school year rapidly approaches, school buses will soon be rolling. The bus routes for the 2016-2017 school year have been uploaded to our website @ www.portlandctschools.org. In addition, copies of the bus routes are in the Town Hall at the Town Clerk’s office, the Portland Public Library, Bordonaro’s Pharmacy, and of course here in my office and each of the schools. These bus routes are subject to change so please monitor the website for updates.
As many of you know, M&J Bus Inc. was awarded a 5-year bus contract and has assumed all transportation responsibilities. Mrs. Deb Johnson and many of her former drivers will continue working here in Portland. Therefore, I anticipate a smooth transition to M&J. Please read the following important notes from Mrs. Johnson.
- Please be at the bus stop 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled pickup.
- Times may be a bit off the first week of school. Please be patient.
- It is our policy that we will not drop off k-5 students unless an adult is at the stop or visible. If no adult is there the student will be brought back to bus yard or the school.
- Students are seated on the bus based on grade and school with kindergarten & grade 1 students in the front, grade 2-4 students in the middle, and students in grades 5 & 6 in the rear of the bus. In the secondary schools, students in grades 7& 8 are in the front of the bus and high school students are in the rear of the bus.
- Please call Mrs. Johnson at the bus yard if you have any safety concerns @ (860) 342-2217.
According to the National Safety Council, school buses are the safest way for students to get to and from school. Riding the bus is 13 times safer than riding in a family vehicle. That’s because buses are designed for safety. I am including important safety tips that I ask you to review with your child(ren) before school begins and then regularly throughout the year (older children too).
- While waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and do not go onto private property.
- Avoid roughhousing or any other behaviors that can be distracting.
- Line up away from the road as the bus approaches. Wait until the bus has stopped and the doors have opened before approaching. Please use the handrail when boarding.
- While on the bus, STAY IN YOUR SEAT, keep aisles clear of books and bags, and don’t make noise that will distract the driver. Keep head, arms, and hands inside the bus at all times. Always wait for the bus to stop completely before leaving your seat. Use the handrail when exiting the bus.
- NEVER cross behind the back of a bus.
- If you must cross in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver and make sure the driver can see you. Before crossing, wait for the signal from the driver, and then look left, right, and left again. While crossing the road, always watch for sudden traffic changes.
Stay tuned for further updates.