~ Letter-to-the-Editor ~ Saugus Public Schools bus transportation policy is putting some children at risk

Dear Editor:

I’m reaching out with an urgent concern regarding a pressing issue in Saugus that is jeopardizing children’s safety and access to education.

My son, Elias, a fifth grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy, has been denied school transportation due to a rigid district policy that excludes families like ours — those who live just under the 2-mile eligibility threshold but face significant hardship.

Elias’s situation is not unique. Families with low-income or single-parent households are being forced to send their children to school without transportation, despite the fact that walking routes are unsafe and there are no alternatives provided by the school district.

This policy — while technically adhering to the district’s guidelines — fails to consider the very real dangers and challenges that families like ours face. Elias lives 1.6 miles from school, and without access to private transportation, he is left without a safe way to get to class.

I’ve attempted to address this issue at every level — from filing complaints with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to appealing directly to the Town Manager and school officials.

Yet, no solution has been found. The system’s refusal to provide transportation has left vulnerable children stranded and unable to attend school safely. I’m asking for your help to investigate and raise awareness of this issue.

By reporting on how the Saugus School District’s policies are impacting families, you could shine a light on the larger systemic gaps that are leaving children in precarious situations.

Thank you for your time and consideration. This issue is urgent, and your coverage could make a critical difference for children like Elias who deserve a safe and equitable path to education.

The issue is the policy that disregards the dangers, unsafe conditions, no sidewalks, no cross guards, congested roads with drivers rushing and heading to work, single parent working and living with medical conditions and very limited means to pay for private transportation

I’m sure this is happening in many households in Saugus. I have the conviction that this is wrong, and I want to encourage other parents to be vocal as well.

Sincerely,

Alfonso Ceciliano