Listen to the full meeting
The Ad Hoc School Transportation Committee held its inaugural meeting on October 29, 2026, electing School Committee Member Kevin Aguiar as chair following a viva voce vote. During citizen input, residents from Judge Street, along with a written statement from another homeowner, addressed urgent infrastructure and safety issues on Arruda’s Lane. They explained that severe erosion and rutting on the private way threaten school bus and emergency vehicle access into their neighborhood. The committee voted unanimously to recommend that Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey contact the affected residents with feedback and potential options by the following day.
School department officials, including Interim Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith, Deputy Superintendent Tracy Legault, CFO Aldo Petronio, and Transportation Director Deb Carvalho, presented a detailed breakdown of the district’s school transportation operations. The FY27 transportation budget is projected at approximately $17.06 million, driven significantly by special education transportation costs ($9.08 million) and McKinney-Vento homeless transportation costs ($3.57 million). The committee discussed the 50/50 salary split for district couriers, the financial impact of out-of-district and homeless placements, and a 12% contractual price hike per bus.
The committee also closely examined charter school transportation requirements, noting that Argosy Collegiate students receive yellow bus transportation while Fall River high school students use SRTA public buses. Committee members called on the administration to explore route tiering and busing equity with Argosy to potentially capture an estimated $300,000 in savings. Additionally, officials touched upon the redistricting impact, school zone traffic congestion around Durfee High School and the Fonseca School, and the status of crossing guards. The committee voted to amend its schedule to hold its next meeting on December 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Topics discussed
- 1:16 · Election of Kevin Aguiar as Chair of the Ad Hoc School Transportation Committee — approved
Election of Kevin Aguiar as Chair of the Ad Hoc School Transportation Committee - 1:31 · Motion to waive the rules to grant speaker additional time during citizen input — passed
Motion to waive the rules to grant speaker additional time during citizen input - 2:40 · Arruda’s Lane Access and Safety Concerns
Residents Mallory Klonowski and Janet Riley, along with a written statement from Eugene Raymond, raised serious concerns about hazardous road conditions on Arruda’s Lane in Tiverton, the sole access point to Fall River’s Judge and Greenleaf Street neighborhoods. - 17:33 · Legal Recommendation Regarding Arruda’s Lane
The committee voted to recommend that Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey reach out to Judge Street residents with feedback on road access options by the following day. - 17:55 · Recommendation requesting Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey contact Judge Street residents regarding Arruda’s Lane feedback by the end of the next day — approved
Recommendation requesting Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey contact Judge Street residents regarding Arruda’s Lane feedback by the end of the next day - 20:35 · School Transportation Overview and FY27 Budget Projections
School administration presented the $17.06 million transportation budget, fleet logistics with three vendors (Amaral, Tremblay, Whaling City), and student rider counts. - 24:32 · McKinney-Vento Homeless and Special Education Placements
The committee reviewed the growing costs and state unfunded mandate requirements associated with transporting 114 McKinney-Vento students and out-of-district special education placements. - 27:57 · Fall River Public Schools Courier Cost Allocation
Officials discussed four full-time couriers whose salaries are split 50/50 between non-net transportation spending and net school spending based on their daily duties. - 49:37 · Argosy Collegiate Charter School Busing and Tiering
Members discussed whether Argosy Collegiate could adjust its bell times to tier routes or transition secondary students to SRTA public transit to save an estimated $300,000. - 1:13:10 · Impact of Elementary Redistricting on Transportation
Officials addressed the transportation savings at Viveiros School versus added busing costs from relocating the dual-language program to the Greene School. - 1:18:09 · Long-Term Cost Escalations and Fleet Requirements
CFO Aldo Petronio discussed post-COVID inflation, fuel increases, and state and federal pushes toward newer and electric vehicles driving contract costs up. - 1:27:26 · Tiverton Agreement on Sawdy Pond
Committee discussed the inter-municipal agreement with Tiverton regarding Sawdy Pond students and the potential impact of Tiverton terminating the contract. - 1:39:02 · Traffic Congestion, Crossing Guards, and Public Safety Around Schools
Councilors and school officials discussed traffic management around Durfee High School and Fonseca School, signal timing, OptiCom emergency light preemption, and oversight of crossing guards. - 1:41:23 · Motion to amend the meeting schedule to hold the next meeting on December 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM — passed
Motion to amend the meeting schedule to hold the next meeting on December 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM - 1:44:33 · Motion to accept the meeting schedule as amended — approved
Motion to accept the meeting schedule as amended - 1:44:50 · Motion to adjourn the meeting — passed
Motion to adjourn the meeting