Students riding on bus route 302 will have a bit more leg room tomorrow when Stanley Elementary School officials reinforce a regulation that many say has fallen by the wayside.
Stanley Principal Marcia Pertuz and Assistant Principal Thomas Lefort said the bus service, Eastern Bus Co Inc.- which is used for all Waltham public schools - said one of Stanley's bus drivers reported an overcrowding problem.
Waltham public schools Business Manger Leanne Wilcinski and Lisa Campana of the city's Parent Information Center were asked to investigate route 302.
They discovered some families who were using the bus were not in the correct busing zone. The zone begins eight-tenths of a mile away from the school, Pertuz and Lefort said. Students who lives eight-tenths of a mile from a particular school are considered walkers and are not eligible to ride the bus.
Stanley school officials sent letters to several families on Sept. 17, informing them that their children were no longer eligible to ride the bus after tomorrow.
According to the letter, children who live between 121 - 208 Charles St. and 1-60 Williams St. will no long be able to ride the bus.
An additional crossing guard will be located where Prospect Street meets Charles Street, the letter read.
Stanley Parent Teacher Organization President Susan McKinney said the increase in bus usage is related to this year's change in drop-off and pickup locations.
Parents previously dropped off and picked up students in front of the school. McKinney said for safety reasons a change had to be made.
"It was dangerous for students and teachers. McKinney said. "So parents have to now park at Nipper Maher Park and then you either walk your kid down Shakespeare Road or Wheelock Road."
She explained that student have to cross the street when being dropped off or picked up by a parent. McKinney suspects this change has lead to the increase of bus use.
"What that means is it is no longer convenient to drop off or pick up (students) in a private vehicle," she said. "What happened is that people that were not using buses before are now using buses."
Pertuz said more Stanley parents have opted to place their children on buses this year.
"Whenever our buses are becoming very full, we need to check to be sure that all the children on there are eligible for the seat," she said. "A lot of people are confused because their neighbors are eligible, so they think they are also and they are very surprised because they aren't."
Judy Santiago, a parent who lives just before the busing zone on the corner of Charles Street and Williams Street, said her child is no longer eligible to ride the bus to Stanley.
"My bus stop will be eliminated instead of adding another bus because of (overcrowding)," she said. "(It) causes a safety issue or possibly less attendance in school depending on weather conditions."
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
