Peabody to begin crackdown on bus pass violators

PEABODY – Students who have not paid the $100 transportation fee will not be allowed on the bus beginning in March, despite concerns voiced by the School Committee Tuesday.The crackdown is the result of six figures in outstanding transportation fees.Superintendent Milton Burnett said Tuesday night that new bus passes will soon be issued to students who are up to date with their payments. Those who are behind in payments will not receive a new pass and not be allowed on the bus.The disciplinary procedure raised concerns for some Committee members. Brandi Carpenter worried that students would be forced to miss school because they didn’t have the correct bus pass.”We won’t leave a kid at a bus stop,” said Burnett, who noted that a student has never been denied a ride to school thus far. In terms of the new pass, parents would likely be called to come pick up their child after school.Bus fees were established this school year to help balance the budget in the declining economy. At $100 per child and capping out at $200 per household, the fees were expected to bring in $300,000. So far, only $170,000 has been collected, said School Business Manager Mike Musto.”I have a problem with the Transportation Department being used as a collections agency,” said School Committee member Mike Moutsoulas. “We are responsible as a board for the failure of this project.”Moutsoulas said he believes it is the Committee’s responsibility to correct the discrepancies surrounding payments. His suggestions for next year, as fees have been built in to the premature budget, would be to discontinue the four-payment option.He suggested cutting the payment plan down to two payments that begin before the school year, so that any problems can be fixed before the start of school. He also suggested offering “early bird discounts” to those who pay their fees upfront to encourage residents to pay on time.”They might think it’s hurting no one, but it is,” said Committee member Dave McGeney.McGeney said that the tiered payment option was provided to help ease the burden for people suffering hardships; however, he believes that some people are simply “blowing it off.”Musto said some late payments have arrived in the office, but there are still many families who have yet to make even their first payment due to bounced checks.Burnett said letters will be sent to owing parents this week advising them to catch up on their transportation fees. New passes are expected to go out the second week of March.