The safety of Wilmington students during school transportation should be clearly defined, consistently enforced, and treated as a priority. However, families have identified a lack of clear, comprehensive school bus safety policies addressing both roadway safety and student safety on buses.

Parents and guardians have raised concerns about unsafe conditions at bus stops, including vehicles failing to stop for buses and children being required to navigate active traffic. These concerns are not unique. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, illegal passing of stopped school buses remains a significant safety concern nationwide. In addition, there are ongoing concerns about student safety on buses due to inconsistent supervision, unclear expectations, and a lack of a structured reporting and response system.

While general school policies may exist, there appears to be no clearly communicated, consistently enforced framework specifically addressing school bus safety.

We are requesting that Wilmington Public Schools and the School Committee:

• Review and publicly define school bus safety policies
• Establish clear procedures for bus stop safety, including evaluation of unsafe crossings and traffic risks
• Develop a consistent system for reporting and addressing on-bus safety concerns
• Ensure policies are communicated clearly to families and enforced consistently
• Evaluate additional safety measures where gaps are identified

These steps are not about adding unnecessary complexity, but about creating a clear, structured approach to student safety during transportation.

All students deserve a safe and predictable environment when traveling to and from school. We urge Wilmington Public Schools to review current practices and take meaningful steps to strengthen school bus safety policies.

This petition is organized by Wilmington parents who are working together to improve school bus safety.