A late bus to the high school will support equity in Brunswick.

The decision 20+ years ago to build the high school three miles from the center of town should have come with a lifetime promise: that the town would provide for the transportation needs of the high school students who attend the many before- and afterschool activities there.

It seems very clear that there are few after-school activities at the primary level, several at the junior high level, and many more at the high school level: excellent sports, clubs, music rehearsals, theater productions etc. Engaged students stay around campus to do some of these extra-curricular activities much of the time. We would hope ALL of our students would have the possibility to be engaged. But if a student does not have a flexible and available parent, or — if the student can drive — the means to have a car at the school all day, then being an engaged citizen of the high school is not even an option. (Yes, some share or beg rides, but this is also a social barrier for some. It doesn’t help that new drivers in Maine are not allowed to drive other kids for 9 months after getting their license.)

In terms of easy accessibility (walking, biking, or at least proximity to parental commute and errand paths) the old high school site was much better for more people.

But we now have the schools we have, so let us try to optimize the transportation needs for all. I think the simplest way to do this is to ask the high school kids when a late bus would be useful, and provide at least one per afternoon to bring them to a few select stops around Brunswick.

I know all too well that the Brunswick Explorer has been forced to reduce its schedule, due to lack of local matching funds, thus can no longer come to the high school.

Brunswick residents, please encourage your kids to ride the bus, and your school board members to support it. The benefits are numerous: social equity, environmental responsibility, independence for youth, less taxiing for parents, and less traffic on Maine Street. This seems like a multiple-win situation to me.

Karen Topp,

Brunswick