A Message from Dr. Lisa Hess Regarding Transportation

Dear Governor Mifflin School District Families,

I am writing to you today to address the transportation disruptions and challenges that some of our students and families have recently experienced. We understand that safe reliable transportation is of great importance and that these issues have caused inconvenience and concern.  We want to assure you that we are fully aware of the situation and are taking immediate steps to resolve the issues.  We deeply regret any inconvenience or anxiety this may have caused to our students and their families.

To address these transportation issues, we have taken the following actions:

1. Direct Engagement with Families: We understand that this is an issue of high importance to many of our district families and, as we move forward, we are committed to keeping you informed throughout this process. We will provide regular updates on our progress and any changes to the transportation services. Your feedback and suggestions are vital to us, and we encourage you to reach out to us with your concerns and ideas.

2. Direct Engagement with First Student:  We are in direct communication with First Student, the transportation company responsible for our school district's transportation services. Our discussions with them are aimed at identifying the root causes of the problems and finding effective solutions that will solve these problems in the long term.

3. Comprehensive Review:  We are conducting a thorough review of all aspects of our transportation services, including routes, bus schedules, maintenance procedures, and communication protocols. This comprehensive evaluation will help us identify areas for improvement.

4. Immediate Remediation:  Where possible, we are implementing immediate remedies to resolve the most pressing issues. This includes adjustments to routes, improved communication with parents and guardians, and additional or modified staffing where possible. We, like many districts, are battling with a bus driver shortage which heavily contributes to the issues of timing and longer routes. We ask our community to understand that, while we and First Student are actively working to remedy this particular issue, it will take time.

Our ultimate goal is to create a better overall transportation experience for both students and families. We understand that reliable transportation is essential for your child's education, and we take this responsibility seriously. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.  With your support, we can resolve these issues and ensure that our transportation services meet the high standards you expect from Governor Mifflin School District.

Please stay tuned for further updates and do not hesitate to reach out to our Transportation Department or the school administration if you have any questions or need assistance. Together, we will overcome these challenges and continue to provide the best possible educational experience for your child.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education, and we look forward to working together to improve our transportation services.

Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa Hess
Superintendent
Governor Mifflin School District