Dear Editor:

As a student from Westport who attends Boothbay Region High School, I would like to address the ongoing issue of the lack of transportation for after school activities for students such as myself coming from nearby towns outside the CSD. The lack of transportation creates an unfair barrier for students whose families cannot provide a ride.

According to Afterschoolsalliance.org, studies show that after school activities significantly enhance the students' development by improving academic performance, fostering social-emotional skills, and providing safe environments that reduce risky behaviors.

According to the school's office secretary Laura Murphy, BRHS has 36 students who come from Westport, Alna, Southport and Edgecomb. As a student who comes from Westport, I have been excluded from most if not all after school activities.

Most parents work full time, as my mother does, and are unable to provide transportation. Many rural areas provide activity buses that have limited stops but provide central location drop off. Some rural schools organize staff and volunteer drivers to help students who want to participate but cannot due to the lack of transportation. To my knowledge, our school does not have such a system of drivers. 

There is also an organization called Everdriven (based in Colorado but serving various states including Maine) that provides alternative transportation for students with unique needs including those outside standard routes. This shows that implementing a program similar to this could be done here. I do understand that such a program would add a budget cost.

I also understand that there is a shortage of bus drivers in Maine, but perhaps giving bus drivers more hours which equals more income would encourage more people to become bus drivers. This would hopefully help with the shortage and resolve the problem of students who are unable to engage in after school activities because of a lack of transportation.

We should get a committee of parents, students, and CSD administration together to discuss solutions to this problem. Together we could make a difference.

Mathew Scarborough

BRHS rising senior

Westport Island