COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch Intermediate School District Board of Education approved a waiver Wednesday for the use of child restraint systems and bus monitors, which will allow the BISD to continue providing transportation services for their 36 Head Start children in the Quincy School District during the 2019-2020 school year.
Head Start Director Cindy Rowe said the request is a reduction of 130 students from last year’s request because they are discontinuing an agreement with Coldwater Community Schools.
The BISD will be providing services to families in the Coldwater area with their buses and drivers. All BISD Head Start buses are equiped with safety restraints and bus monitors. The waiver request will be for contracted transportation services with Quincy Community Schools only.
She said cited safety issues for the small children that attend Head Start.
Quincy buses in some cases include Head Start children as well as elementary and secondary students. The waiver cites several other reasons why public school buses are unable to utilize child restraints. One of the reasons is the turn around time is often quick, making it impossible to remove and install restraints between trips.
