Newfield school district says bus driver shortage may result in difficult options

The Newfield Central School District has informed parents and guardians that its bus driver shortage may necessitate some difficult short-term options, such as virtual learning or canceling routes on a rotating basis.

While other schools in the area are also facing a bus driver shortage, Newfield Central School District Superintendent Eric Hartz informed the community that the district is facing a more complicated situation, with multiple drivers out for various reasons over the next few weeks.

“We are currently looking to combine any routes we can,” Hartz wrote. “Other options we are considering are much more difficult. These include going virtual or possibly having to cancel or ‘brown out’ routes on a rotating basis.”

Hartz assured the community that the district is looking into all alternatives to ensure that students can attend school, including speaking with other districts about possible options. 

“I want to be abundantly clear: this is no one’s fault and I am not blaming anyone,” Hartz said in a statement to Tompkins Weekly. “It is just the current situation we are in. We are hoping that by the end of the February break, [Feb. 20 to Feb. 24], we are back up to full staff.”

The announcement has led some Newfield parents to work together to find solutions, coordinating with each other to arrange possible pick-ups and drop-offs of their students. One parent acknowledged the kindness of her daughter’s bus driver. 

“I know there’s a lot of stress right now with the driver shortage and I hope that we can find a way to make this better, but the ones we do have really go above and beyond and for that I am so thankful,” she posted on the Newfield NY Community page on Facebook.

“We all know that students being present and in school is the optimal learning experience,” Hartz said. “I will be updating the community as needed. For now, we have a plan and we are up and running.”

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Public hearing set for Newfield regarding a temporary moratorium on campgrounds

A public hearing has been set regarding the adoption of a proposed local law that imposes a temporary, townwide, one-year moratorium on campgrounds

The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Newfield Fire Hall.

Newfield residents are invited to join the meeting and can speak regarding the proposed law. Because the meeting’s location has been changed to the Newfield Fire Hall, a Zoom option will not be available.

Copies of the proposed moratorium are available for review at the Town Clerk’s office or the town website, www.newfieldny.org.

According to the draft put forth by the Newfield Town Board, the temporary moratorium defines “campground” as any parcel or tract of land, including buildings or other structures under the control of any person, where five or more campsites are available for temporary or seasonal overnight occupancy. 

The Town Board cites Second Wind Cottages’ proposal to build 25 campsites on a parcel to house those who were previously homeless.

The nonprofit organization has proposed a 25-cabin encampment, which many Newfield residents have opposed in recent meetings. Others, though outnumbered, have expressed support.

“Since first experiencing pushback about our idea to build a campsite to offer safe and indoor options for currently homeless people, we have taken the approach that we need to engage more, listen more and share more about what is working at Second Wind Cottages,” said David Shapiro, a Second Wind Cottages executive.

“This led us to the conclusion that even beyond Newfield there are concerns about the model of providing shelter to homeless people via a campsite community,” Shapiro added. “However, throughout Tompkins County, including within Newfield, there is support for more expansion of our permanent supportive cottage housing.”

The proposal has generated “significant concern,” according to the draft moratorium, which lists health and safety concerns, including those centered on the lack of local police, EMS and other social services in the town, as well as the “relatively lengthy response times for police and medical services,” which the draft describes as some of the longest in Tompkins County.

While the town board acknowledges it adopted a comprehensive plan in 2013 and has a mobile housing law that addresses health, safety and sanitation issues in small, densely populated living areas, neither contemplated the proposed campground.

The new moratorium addresses campgrounds, which had not been previously addressed in the comprehensive plan, said Newfield Town Supervisor Michael Allinger, who added that they are reviewing the mobile housing law from the 1990s. 

“The planning board is the lead on that project and will present the town board with its findings,” he said.

The legislation addressing campgrounds will be drafted by the town board with significant input from the planning board, Allinger explained. 

“The comprehensive plan will need to have an addendum for any new legislation that comes from either mobile housing or campgrounds,” he said.

The one-year moratorium allows the town board time to complete and adopt an amended comprehensive plan, according to the draft.

“In my opinion, the best way for a community to move forward is to engage in the process. The town board understands that there are concerns and fears that the public has, and we want to hear all of them,” said Allinger. “The five individuals that make up the town board work for the people of this town. We do our jobs best when we hear from the people and work collaboratively toward a solution.”

Shapiro noted that Second Wind Cottages hopes to continue working with the Newfield Town Board to find a mutually agreeable idea for expanding the cottage community.