Letter to the editor
To the editor:
I’m writing this in response to a recent item about school bus drivers allegedly speeding through Hightstown ("Buses should obey speed limit laws," Sept. 7, 2001, Page 10A).
First of all, it’s both gratuitous and irresponsible to label all school bus driver as speeders. It implies recklessness and smacks of someone with an agenda vs. school busses. This is absolutely unfair.
The real truth is about a group of dedicated and caring professional drivers who are paid a part-time wage for the responsibility of a full-time job. Each driver is extensively trained and tested by the state in order to qualify for the position. Each driver goes through background and spot substance testing on a continuous basis. Each driver is responsible for the condition of his or her vehicle and each driver is required to perform two extensive inside and outside safety checks each day regardless of weather. This is all before even sitting behind the wheel.
Let’s talk about sitting behind the wheel. Of course each driver is responsible for the safety of every child on his or her bus. No driver is going to risk their livelihood after all this preparation by going 28 mph in a 25-mph zone. Recently the new school year began amid much chaos with new children entering and leaving all schools, especially our youngest. Most drivers took extra time and care. I, for one, after discharging my students, returned to the home of one elementary school student whose parents weren’t home and sat with the child for 35 minutes until a parent arrived home. Other children need to be escorted because they didn’t remember their room or teacher. Many drivers experienced the same circumstances which occur all year round. It’s more the norm than the exception.
How many parents would feel comfortable having outside bus company entrusted with their most precious. Ask most parents of our elementary and special-needs children, and you will see the real picture of gratitude. Lest anyone think this is only about driving children to and from school, our busport provides service for trips in and out of district, transportation for all athletic teams in our schools, transportation in and out of district for our many special needs children, and servicing our senior citizen requirements as well. Nobody is defending speeders or any other law-breakers. That is police business. But it’s time for all to recognize that we live in, work in, and care bout our community and responsibility. I’m proud to be an East Windsor School District employee.
Mark Rosenfeld
East Windsor
The writer is a bus driver for the East Windsor Regional School District.

