A group of Fairfield parents requested that a public hearing be conducted to establish the number of people who favor resumption of school bus transportation formerly provided by the town at a meeting 53 years ago today, Friday, January 4, 1957.Mrs. James Barona of Jeniford Road was the spokesperson for the townspeople present at the Fairfield Board of Education meeting, asking that the former walking distance regulations be returned for the new school year starting in September.
She contended that the longer walking distances under the regulations adopted that year deprived many children of rides to classes.
Residents of the Kings Highway and New England Avenue sections also voiced similar pleas. They said they live in fringe areas, and some parents were paying a dollar a week to provide their own transportation for their children to Andrew Warde High School.
Roger W. Hartt, school board chairman, said the people would have what they want if they would pay for it but, he added, the majority felt last year the transportation system is too liberal.
He said the Board of Education, in increasing the walking distances to cut down on transportation, made a choice between providing good education or good transportation for children. A review of the transportation program was promised by Mr. Harrt.
Preliminary budget recommendations for the auxiliary agency and general control divisions of the budget were presented for the board's consideration by the administration.
An increase of $11,533 in expenditures over the $162,875 allocated in the current year's budget was proposed for the auxiliary agency figure. This included expenditures of $110,000, an increase of approximately $10,500 for transportation.
Frank Peck, business manager, said the increase was caused by hazards of the Connecticut Turnpike construction, which has resulted in additional transportation being approved by the advisory transportation committee.
Paul
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