In New Britain, Connecticut, parents are expressing frustration over significant issues with the school bus service provided by First Student, a company contracted to transport special needs students. Just a week into the school year, reports have surfaced of late pickups, incorrect drop-offs, and communication failures, causing distress among families.

One alarming incident involved Somers McCray's son, who has autism. He was supposed to return home from school in Waterbury at 3:30 p.m. but was instead found nearly 40 miles away in Danbury. McCray used her son's iPhone locator to track him and coordinated with the bus driver to meet at a 7-Eleven in Southington to bring her son home. "He said that he was afraid, he was so tired, he was hungry, and his head hurt so bad just from the travel," McCray told WVIT.

Another parent, Lilly Reyes, shared that her nonverbal son, who uses a wheelchair, was taken to the wrong school due to a paperwork error. He was supposed to attend a school in Killingly but was mistakenly driven to Plainville. "My son is so dysregulated. He’s biting himself, he’s hitting himself, he’s hitting me, hitting peers," Reyes told the news station.

Dr. Tony Gasper, superintendent of the Consolidated School District of New Britain, acknowledged the challenges with First Student, stating that about 80% of the complaints come from parents of special needs students. "What has become quite obvious now, is they just were not ready for the start of the school year," Gasper said. The district is considering financial penalties against First Student and has issued a formal notice demanding a corrective action plan.

First Student apologized for the disruptions, citing challenges with timely deliveries and driver availability. They are bringing in out-of-state drivers and vehicles and offering incentives to attract more drivers. Despite these efforts, parents and the district are demanding swift improvements to ensure the safety and reliability of student transportation.

Rickey Smiley