As a concerned resident of Sleepy Hollow Estates in Bethel, CT, I have witnessed the daily struggle our middle and high school students face due to the current bus stop location. Our children (some as young as 11 years old) are made to walk 10-15+ minutes from their homes to reach this stop. This not only poses a safety risk but also adds unnecessary stress on our young learners.

The current bus route stops at a location that is also not safe for drop off and pick up by parents of the community. It's time we address this issue to ensure the safety of our children.

We propose that the bus route be permanently changed so that it picks up and drops off students at safer locations, similar to the Elementary Schools route - specifically at the corner of Ichabod Lane and Legend Drive, as well as points throughout Katrina Circle. This change will significantly reduce walking distances for many students while providing safer pick-up/drop-off points for parents.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, pedestrian injury is among the leading causes of death in children aged 5-19 in America (source: Safe Kids Worldwide). By changing these routes, we can potentially prevent accidents from happening in our community.

Let's prioritize our children's safety over convenience. Please sign this petition urging the Bethel School District and First Student of Bethel to permanently alter school bus routes for safer pick-up and drop-off points in Sleepy Hollow Estates in Bethel, CT.