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Schools

Bus Transportation Concerns Private and Parochial School Parents

Superintendent Nina Zetty said she hopes to work with school principals to develop a transportation plan for students with half days or early dismissals.

Concern over the possible loss of bus transportation for students attending parochial and private schools attracted a number of parents to the meeting Monday night in hopes of having the service continued.

A letter sent out last week from the district’s transportation department told administrators that bus transportation would be discontinued this year, prompting a large gathering of parents who wished to express their concerns.

Their concerns were answered before the public comment part of the meeting when said that all transportation for parochial and private school students would remain as it was in the 2010-2011 school year. The announcement was met with a round of applause among the assembled parents.

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About 400 Peters Township students are transported by Peters Township school buses to parochial and private schools, with the majority attending St. Louise de Marillac School. Others attending St. Patrick’s School in Canonsburg.

Although Peters Township School District will continue provide bus transportation to and from the parochial and private schools, parents are concerned that the district would not provide transportation for their students who have half days or early dismissals. There are no half days scheduled in the Peters Township district.

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Michael Farnan, an attorney and parent of students who attend St. Louise, said parents would be prepared to go to court to seek an injunction to force the district to provide bus transportation, since it is mandated by state law that public schools provide such services.

Parent Chris Elger said he would be willing to work with the Peters Township schools to reach a plan that is "workable."

In an interview Tuesday, Zetty said she hopes to be able to work with the principals of the private and parochial schools to develop a plan that will provide transportation for their students.

Transportation and funding cuts were the subject of remarks given by Valarie Gobao and Bonnie Strang, two high school students in the forensics program, who asked board members to consider providing financial support to forensics competitors who travel to other districts in the region.

The students specifically asked for bus transportation to be provided for events held in such districts as North Allegheny. Cuts were made by the board in June to balance the budget cut transportation for extracurricular activities.

“We know that groups like the soccer team have the soccer boosters who help them,” they said. “Why can’t we have a forensics boosters organization?”

Following their remarks, Mike Bench, a bus driver for the district, offered to donate his time to drive the students to their events.

Zetty also noted on Tuesday that the issue concerning an additional third-grade teacher has been resolved by moving a first-grade teacher into the third grade classroom. Any additional students moving into the area will be bused to .

A for several months requesting that an additional third-grade teacher be assigned to .

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