MARLBOROUGH – With the start of the fifth and final year of the bus contract with NRT, Marlborough Public Schools is trying some changes to help alleviate some long standing problems.
“We are heading into the school year both optimistic and apprehensive with regards to school transportation,” Director of Finance and Operations Matthew Wells told the School Committee during its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
MPS changed some bus stops in order to reduce run time and head off the problem of delays.
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“More community bus stops have been created where neighborhood students will walk to their specific community stop located on the feeder roads,” said Wells.
“Buses will not be planned to drive into neighborhoods, and individual house stops will be minimalized,” he added.
Wells said that MPS will be working with NRT to make sure the new routes run smoothly.
He added that as of Aug. 27, all driver positions have been filled.
Summer projects
Wells also presented to the School Committee an update on the work done by the MPS facilities team during the summer.
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning project at Whitcomb Middle School’s kitchen and cafeteria is almost done; the school’s library floor has been replaced with new carpet tiles.
The HVAC system at Jaworek Elementary School has been upgraded with additional bypass filters.
“The buildings look fantastic,” said Wells.
On the Richer Elementary school front, the building project is in the process of obtaining an owners project manager. According to Wells, seven proposals have been received. The selection process will run through early September.