Demanding a safe bus stop

Meeting is at the Saugerties HS media center. It begins at 7pm. Anyone wishing to speak on behalf of the dangerous bus stop conditions located in West Camp on RT 9w please feel free to stop in and weigh in on this issue.

Our children are being forced to cross a road the district has deemed unsafe to then walk along RT 9W where there is NOT a shoulder to cross the same unsafe road onto West Camp road, where they cross again into a private parking lot to get the bus to school. This happens all while our areas children must walk passed three bus stops on opposite sides of the road. Our children are NOT permitted to ride the bus from the set bus stops for the HS or elementary students. Instead they must walk passed three current and used stops for Riccardi (an out of district school), HS, and GDM on a road with no shoulder to cross three roads to get to a bus stop simply to be provided with transportation to school.

Not only are 12 children forced to get to school this way the district provides a separate bus going to the same school for two children. This bus just like the other two mentioned turn around and drive right passed 3 driveways...two of which had been used for bus stops for years prior.

You may ask why would the district provide a separate bus not once, twice, but three times to some students but not all? Sounds weird I thought also but the reason is to prevent those students from crossing the road as they have deemed crossing the road unsafe. However the district has a firm stance on and has responded numerous times since Feb "it's not our responsibility how the children get to the bus". Then I ask why do we send private buses (3) for students going to the same place and why aren't those students allowed to cross the road? How is safety a concern for "some" students over others.

I'll also note one bus is out of district and this bus comes to a complete stop directly in front of my driveway to make a left turn down Patterson Road. This is the same location the district claims is unsafe. This stop and drop off down Patterson Road happens with a small bus as well as a large bus.

It is my understanding this has been discussed for sometime now with local parents. We are new to the area and attempted to be proactive with an open, respectful, and insightful dialogue in order to get a safe bus stop for not just our own children but for the areas children. I began this exchange with the district in Feb 2017- to be avoided, denied meetings, and told time and time again by the business manager Lissa Jilek she makes the final say. I have included ALL those in transportation, Seth Turner, Larry Montone, HWY dept, the mayor, the supervisor, the chief, local papers, various village and town board members, as well as our board of education. I have never been given a meeting or a call back! Instead a certified letter stating the decision was final by Mrs Jilek.

We are only asking for the same treatment as others! Let us use the existing bus stops, or any one of the three driveways all the buses pass.

How is this ok?? Please come out and speak to save our kids! Hey maybe you have an unsafe stop too!! Speak up and out! The district should care more and NOT have every facet of its departments controlled by the business manager!! Thank you