The message was loud and clear at a special meeting held on April 29 in Preston , “ Keep our kids safe . ” Many community residents and bus drivers came out to the meeting , held at the Preston Veterans Memorial School , to voice their objection to the Board of Education’s possible plan to contract out Preston school buses .

The BOE will conduct a feasibility study in regard to contracting out school buses for the following school year, in an effort to see if it could save the town money .

According to resident Bill Legler , “ I found out about the plan for the BOE to hire a contractor to possibly provide service to the town’s school bus system , and I started a petition against it . Superintendant John Welch doesn ‘ t even live in Preston . When he gives an idea to the BOE , they rubber stamp it , with no questions asked , and do what the superintendent requests , ” he said .

The CSEA SEIU Local 2001 is pushing to keep the current bus drivers servicing the students , with their message to put student safety first . Union member Pearl Potter has worked for both bus contractors and the Town of Preston for 14 years. She said , “ In Preston , the children come first . With a contractor , kids were not a priority . ” She continued by saying that for a contractor it is a money making business . She gave an example of a 10-year-old boy , who arrived home on a bus to an empty home .

“ We would call the school , and our boss , if someone is usually waiting for that student , if it is something out of the ordinary , ” she said of the extra effort bus drivers for the district deliver . With a contractor , we would be told to leave the child , if they were of age . ” Town bus drivers have the ability to go the extra mile , she said .

Bebe Krug asked First Selectman Bob Congdon , “ When was the last time someone was left on the bus . ” She also noted that only one BOE member showed up for the meeting . She wanted to know what the selectman had to say about the issue with the buses .

“ It is out of our control , ” said Congdon . He said five yearsago the town bonded a 15-year bond with a 3 to 4 percent interest rate , for the purchase of new buses , totaling $ 698 , 000 . “ I thought that we were committed to using those buses for 15 years, ” he said . After paying for five years, the remaining cost is $ 585 , 000 for principal and interest .

“ If a contractor has to purchase new buses , plus pay for drivers , where would the savings be ? ” Congdon asked . A contractor would pay more in interest for buses than the town did .

Town residents are encouraged to contact the BOE . The next BOE meeting will be on May 10 . If youplan on speaking , youneed to be there on time , since comments are only taken at the beginning of the meeting .