Mr. Brown, Mr. Ross, I am writing to both of you to request that you propose an amendment to a state law regarding school bus service. CHAPTER 71. PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOLHOUSES Chapter 71: Section 68. Duties of towns to maintain schools; transportation of children; school building committee representation Section 68. Every town shall provide and maintain a sufficient number of schoolhouses, properly furnished and conveniently situated for the accommodation of all children therein entitled to attend the public schools. If the distance between a child's residence and the school he is entitled to attend exceeds two miles and the nearest school bus stop is more than one mile from such residence, and the school committee declines to furnish transportation, the department, upon appeal of the parent or guardian of the child, may require the town to furnish transportation for children in grades kindergarten through six for a part or for all of the distance between said child's residence and the school... ... No school committee shall be compelled to furnish transportation on a private way. In the case of transportation provided to students that is not required by this section or by any other general or special law, a school committee may assess fees to the transported student up to an amount sufficient to cover the costs incurred by the district; provided, however, that no student eligible for free or reduced lunch, under the federal school lunch program, shall be required to pay the fee; and provided further, that a school committee may choose to exempt families at other income levels as it may determine... Please consider adding the following (or similar) language: "If the distance between a child's residence and the school he is entitled to attend is within two miles, but there are not sufficient walkways present in the municipality to safely allow students to walk to school, then the school shall be compelled to furnish transportation to the effected students within the 2 mile radius ." The reason for this request is that the Town of Norfolk School Committee is proposing adding bus fees to students that live within a 2 mile radius of the schools. Norfolk does not provide sidewalks on many of the streets within 2 miles and this would be dangerous for students to walk to school. It is unfair of the School Committee to make parents chose between paying the fee or having the children walk in unsafe conditions. I believe the original intent of this law assumed that towns would provide sidewalks for such students (examples: Braintree, Quincy, and Boston). This added language would protect children in towns such as Norfolk. Please consider this. And I would welcome your comments and feedback. Sincerely, Jonathan Garven [ . . . ] Norfolknet.com your community, on-line