Scary looking stuff, but apparently nobody hurt. What’s up with buses this week?
@NewtonFireDept tweets:
Bus vs House at 549 Dedham St. No students on the bus. No one home at the time. No injuries at this time
— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) May 20, 2014
@Sean would be quick to point out that buses do not have minds of their own…
Second one this year!!!! Earlier in the year, there was a car that hit a school bus coming from Brown on Parker Street. Eegads!
@NewtonMom, wait until the SC increases the number of buses headed for the new and expanded Zervas school on narrow Beacon Street. The bus drop-off zone is presently proposed to be on Beacon Street. An added 160 students, along with the added cars and buses should create lots of excitement during morning traffic hours.
Some of those buses and cars could be eliminated from that location if the SC would seriously consider a 16th grade school for the children of Newton Upper Falls, the village without a village school.
Or the 8 buses starting in September going from Waban to Carr School! Those are little kids, and there are 400 of them! Both my kids take the bus, and everytime there is a bus crash I wonder is it my kid this time???? I can’t say it about this bus driver, but my daughter’s elementary school bus driver a few years back spoke ZERO English. He nodded and waved every morning, and if we tried to talk him about something about the bus he smiled and nodded. I have no idea how he would communicate (speak) to the children about getting off the bus in an emergency. I hope that never happens, but on those years, that concerns me.
The bus company (First Student) insisted every bus driver passed an English exam. I was convinced someone else took it for him.
@NewtonMom, moving 400 children in buses across the city for a 2 year period, while a new school is built, is never easy. However it is a temporary action to gain a better school facility for them. The children of NUF have been being bused and driven for 30+ years with no end in sight.
Patrick, so have the children of NLF. But if it makes you feel any better, most Newton kids are driven to school, even if they live much closer.
The school buses stop in front of our house to pick up students in the morning and I’ve marveled at how careful the drivers are about taking it easy on corners and gliding in smoothly to the curb where the kids are standing. This is not an easy job, but the kids are always well behaved and orderly and I’m certain that helps the driver maintain some sense of calm. I think, in fact, that the kids are probably far less of a problem than I was at that age. Maybe it’s because they start an hour and a half earlier than we did, so they are just too groggy to make trouble. Only kidding. Most of these kids are really nice.
The kids today are probably more the norm. It’s more likely that young Bob and his buddies were just world class hell raisers 😉
Adam, you are correct. That was another mistake made 30 years ago for political reasons. We can not change the past; however we could be making better decisions about our future. If Newton wants to be known for its vibrant villages, then each of the 13 villages should have grade schools to offer local centers of learning and community meeting facilities.
I do not know the current statistical breakout for how the different segments of children get to/from school. However, given the propensity for Newton adults to opt for the convenience of driving, I would tend to agree with your comment. The groups planning the new Zervas are counting on more childrens walking to the bigger school. Given most of the additional 160 students will not be from the local neighborhood, I will be pleasantly surprised if that expectation is realized.
May 20th is a weird date.
On this date in 1916, 1917 & 1918 Condell, Kansas was hit by a tornado. In 1922 Babe Ruth returned to the NY lineup and went hitless.
1959 – NY Yanks sink to last place.
1961 – White mob attacks “Freedom Riders” in Montgomery.
1984 – Roger Clemens beats Twins 5-4 for his 1st victory.
1993 – Final “Cheers” episode airs.
And yesterday (May 19th) in 1993 A Boeing 727 slammed into a mountain in Colombia killing 132. Cockpit recorder records voice of co-pilot saying: “shut up Gringo” upon hearing repeated automated warnings to “pull up”.
1992 – Amy Fisher shoots Mary Jo Buttafuoco in Massapequa LI
Just sayn’
That is a delightfully strange comment (that’s a compliment).
@Jerry. Indeed we were, but we were never malicious and we were sensitive about helping old people and neighbors in need.
Why are there suddenly double thumbnails? Jonathan?