Early Friday afternoon, Sept. 4, families of Barrington Public School students received detailed contingency plans, as officials prepare for a possible school bus driver strike. 

Following is the message from Barrington Superintendent of Schools Dr. Holly Hageman:

Dear BPS Community,

As promised, I am following up today with additional information regarding our planning for a potential First Student bus driver strike. I know there has been a lot of communication about this issue affecting many school districts in the state. My goal is to make sure you know what we know, how we are preparing, and what you can expect.

Negotiations between First Student and Teamsters Local 251 continue, and there is no confirmed bus driver strike at this time. We hope an agreement is reached soon and these contingency plans are never needed.

Our District has been working through the operational details of how we can safely keep our schools open and minimize disruption for students and families if regular bus transportation becomes unavailable. I recognize that losing bus transportation, even temporarily, would create a significant challenge. We cannot eliminate that disruption, but we can prepare for it and work together to make it as manageable as possible. 

As we head into the long weekend, we want families to have this information in hand should a strike occur next week, particularly because it could be announced with limited notice.

A quick reminder about next week's school schedule:

• Monday, September 7 (Labor Day): Schools are closed.

• Tuesday, September 8: Schools are open.

• Wednesday, September 9 (Primary Election Day): No school for students. Faculty and staff will participate in professional development.

What All BPS Families Should Know

If First Student bus service is disrupted:

• Schools will remain open under our current contingency plan.

Each school has developed adjusted arrival and dismissal procedures within our staff working hours to safely accommodate significantly more family vehicles. (See below)

• Staff and families should plan for additional traffic and extended arrival and dismissal times and use extra caution around our school campuses due to increased vehicle traffic and increased numbers of students walking or biking to school.

• Families who are able to do so are encouraged to carpool, or have students walk, or bike (if feasible) to reduce the number of vehicles arriving at schools. Students walking or biking should use marked crosswalks, sidewalks, and designated walking pathways. 

• Students will not be penalized for absence due to transportation. Such absence, if necessary, will be excused. 

• Students will not be penalized for tardiness due to transportation. Please do not worry about getting your child through the school doors at an exact time: we want our students in school and will be flexible with families under these unusual circumstances where tardiness may be unavoidable.

• Families of students who receive specialized transportation as part of their IEP will receive a separate communication regarding the plans and options specific to their transportation needs.

If you haven't already, this is a good time to connect with neighbors, family, friends, and other BPS families about potential carpooling or transportation arrangements. We recognize that every family's circumstances are different and that alternate transportation will not be possible for everyone.

As We Head Into the Weekend

For now, First Student bus transportation continues to operate normally and no strike has been called. We will remain in close communication with First Student throughout their negotiations and will communicate directly with you if we receive confirmed information that affects BPS.

Below are the contingency plans for each school. These procedures will only take effect if a strike occurs. If that happens, we will notify families directly and confirm when these plans are being activated.

Barrington High School

BHS Arrival

• Parent drop-off will be extended from 7:45–9:00 AM.

• Classes will begin at 9:00 AM.

• BHS will follow a schedule similar to its delayed-start Common Planning Time (CPT) days. A detailed bell schedule will be shared if the contingency plan is activated.

• The regular school-day rotation will remain in place.

BHS Dismissal

• All students will be dismissed at 2:15 PM.

Barrington Middle School

BMS Arrival

• Doors will open at 7:45 AM.

• Students arriving before 8:20 AM will wait in the Student Union.

• Students arriving after 8:20 AM will report directly to their first-period class.

• To accommodate increased traffic, first period will begin at 9:00 AM.

BMS Dismissal

• 2:15 PM: Students who walk or bike home will begin dismissal. Bike riders should use extra caution due to the anticipated increase in vehicle traffic.

• 2:25 PM: Students being picked up by vehicle will begin dismissal. Please send a note identifying the adult who will pick up your child, particularly if your family is carpooling. Anyone picking up a student should have identification with them.

Hampden Meadows School

All vehicle drop-off and pick-up will take place in the front circle driveway. We understand these times may not work perfectly for every family's schedule. Please follow the staggered schedule as closely as you reasonably can. If you are carpooling, anytime within the hour window is fine.

Hampden Meadows Arrival

• 7:15–7:45 AM: Last names M–Z.

• 7:45–8:15 AM: Last names A–L.

• 8:30–9:00 AM: Walkers and bike riders.

Hampden Meadows Dismissal

• 1:20 PM: Walkers and bike riders.

• 1:35–2:05 PM: Last names M–Z.

• 2:05–2:35 PM: Last names A–L.

Please send a note identifying the adult who will pick up your child, particularly if your family is carpooling. Anyone picking up a student should have identification with them.

Hampden Meadows After-School Care

Students attending the YMCA, Kids Junction, or the AlphaBEST program at HMS will continue with their usual after-school arrangements.

Nayatt School

Nayatt will use both lanes in front of the school (the regular car drop-off lane and bus lane) to accommodate additional vehicles.

Nayatt School Arrival

7:30–8:00 AM: Last names A–L.

8:00–8:30 AM: Last names M–Z.

Nayatt School Dismissal

1:45–2:15 PM: Last names A–L.

2:15–2:45 PM: Last names M–Z.

Walkers and bikers will be dismissed during the same corresponding time blocks. Please send a note identifying the adult who will pick up your child, particularly if your family is carpooling. Anyone picking up a student should have identification with them.

Nayatt School After-School Transportation

Students who normally take Bus 3 or Bus 9 from Nayatt to the YMCA will not have that transportation during a First Student strike. Those families should make alternate arrangements to transport their students to the YMCA (or not) and communicate their child's dismissal plan to the school.

Students attending Kids Junction, Early Learning Center, St. Andrew's will be dismissed as their daycare transportation arrives. AlphaBEST will operate as normal.

Primrose Hill School

Families should use the newly constructed drop-off lane in front of the school, where staff will be available to help direct traffic. We understand these times may not work perfectly for every family's schedule. Please follow the staggered schedule as closely as you reasonably can. If you are carpooling, anytime within the hour window is fine. Please send a note identifying by name the adult who will pick up your child. Anyone picking up a student must have identification.

Primrose Hill Arrival

7:30–8:00 AM: Last names A–L.

8:00–8:30 AM: Last names M–Z.

Primrose Hill Dismissal

1:45–2:15 PM: Last names A–L.

2:15–2:45 PM: Last names M–Z.

Preschool arrival and dismissal procedures will remain unchanged, as preschool has its own designated drop-off area.

Students attending AlphaBEST, Kids Junction, Early Learning Center, or the YMCA will be dismissed at their regular time. Families should make alternate arrangements and communicate their child's dismissal plan to the school.

Sowams School

Regular drop-off procedures will remain in place, with staggered arrival times to help manage additional traffic. We understand these times may not work perfectly for every family's schedule. Please follow the staggered schedule as closely as you reasonably can. If you are carpooling, anytime within the hour window is fine.

Sowams Arrival

7:30–8:00 AM: Last names A–L.

8:00–8:30 AM: Last names M–Z.

Sowams Dismissal

1:45–2:15 PM: Last names A–L.

2:15–2:45 PM: Last names M–Z.

Students will be picked up in front of the school on the grass. Walkers and bikers will also be dismissed during the corresponding time block for their last name.

Please send a note identifying by name the adult who will pick up your child. Anyone picking up a student must have identification.

Sowams Daycare Pick-Up

Students attending Kids Junction, Early Learning Center, Bayside YMCA, or AlphaBEST will be dismissed at their regular time.

Thank you for your continued partnership. I hope our students, families, faculty, and staff enjoy the long holiday weekend and that we do not encounter a bus driver strike next week.

Sincerely,

Dr. Holly Hageman