We, the undersigned parents, guardians, and community members, are requesting that the Lewiston School District review and revise its student transportation policy to better protect children who must walk long distances to school.

Currently, some students are required to walk more than 20 minutes each way to school. While this distance may appear reasonable on paper, it does not account for the reality of Maine’s long, cold winters, icy sidewalks, snow accumulation, poor visibility, and freezing temperatures.

Walking more than 10 minutes in these conditions is physically demanding and potentially unsafe for children. Prolonged exposure to cold weather increases the risk of slips, falls, frostbite, and illness. Expecting students to make long walks in winter places an unnecessary burden on children and families.

We respectfully ask the Lewiston School District to:

Reconsider long walking distances for students, especially during winter months
Establish a maximum walking time of 10 minutes for students
Prioritize student safety and well-being when determining transportation eligibility
Safe access to education is essential. Transportation policies should reflect real-world conditions and protect children from preventable risks.

We urge the district to take action to ensure students can get to school safely and reasonably throughout the school year.