TOWN OF WALLKILL – Parents and the owner of Lil’ Buds Child Care & Preschool in the Town of Wallkill are raising safety concerns over a Pine Bush Central School District decision to move a school bus stop to a busy roadway, saying the change could put young students in danger.
“I’m very concerned about it,” said Lacey Gotay, owner of Lil’ Buds Child Care & Preschool. “This is a dangerous roadway, and I worry that if a driver makes a mistake, one of our children could get seriously injured.”
A First Student school bus previously picked up students in front of Lil’ Buds, shuttling them to Circleville Elementary School for nine years. However, in late August, Gotay said the district changed the bus stop, asking students to walk approximately two-tenths of a mile up busy Blumel Road for morning pickups and afternoon drop-offs.
The eight children, ages 4 to 9, must walk up Alvaran Lane, a one-way road with no easement, to Stephens Avenue and then make the same walk after school. Lil’ Buds began using the new arrangement Monday morning, with a Town of Wallkill police officer assisting staff and students at the request of concerned parents.
Gotay said that when she brought her concerns to Pine Bush Superintendent of Schools Joseph Lenz, who was hired last July, the district conducted a safety evaluation of the bus stop. She said Brian Weir, Pine Bush’s assistant superintendent for business, informed her that no changes would be made to the bus stop.
However, Gotay said Lenz later told her the bus stop would be moved, requiring the children to walk along Blumel Road. Gotay and several parents told Mid-Hudson News they believe Lenz’s decision was retaliatory because it came after they requested a copy of the district’s safety evaluation in case there was another attempt to move the bus stop.
“We asked for the evaluation in writing, and now we’re back to square one,” said Vanessa Shaw, whose 4-year-old daughter attends Lil’ Buds. “I’m concerned about the safety of the new bus stop. I trust Lacey and she does a great job keeping our children safe. I don’t think she should have to deal with this added concern.”
Lenz said the “safety and security of our students is our top priority.”
“We follow Board of Education policy and New York State regulations in establishing our bus stops, as well as during any review process if someone raises a concern,” Lenz added. “This stop was established during our annual review process, where we build all district routes, in alignment with our district practices and policies.”
Comments