Boston’s superintendent denies that an influx migrants is the cause.

Last week, parents and students in a school district near Boston were told that school bus services would not be available due to a lack funding and a shortage buses.

Boston Herald reported that 150 students from Stoughton Public Schools would have to find another way to travel to school before the start of the new academic year on September 4. The Boston Herald first reported the news. At the same time, the state began paying for buses to transport the students of more than 200 newly-arrived migrant families.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Baeta stated, “Unfortunately, the next 2024-2025 academic year, 150 secondary school students who registered to ride a shuttle bus, were not able be placed on one.” Families who did not receive bus transportation have been notified. Bus postcards will be sent to those who receive bus transportation during the week of August 19.

The letter continued, “We are aware of the disappointment and frustration that this has caused the families who were not provided with bus transportation.” We feel it’s important to explain the situation to our families so that you can better understand where we are now.

The letter stated that over 160 students had applied for transportation in comparison to the previous year. Due to budget constraints, the district only has one bus less than last year. According to the superintendent, there are also a lack of bus drivers.

The letter stated that the district was required to provide transportation to students who live in hotels or shelters. According to the superintendent, migrant families arriving in Stoughton are not responsible for the bus shortage.

The letter stated that “we are using funding provided by the state to the district in order to transport students who live in hotels/shelters.” The funding for these buses is not from our operating budget. It’s inaccurate to say that your children didn’t get busing because these kids did. We would not have been able to afford these two buses if we did not receive funding from the government for students who live in shelters or hotels.

The district said it couldn’t do much to provide more busing but announced that there would be an online forum on Monday where parents could voice their concerns or ask questions.

In a letter he sent in March, the Stoughton Superintendent acknowledged that the increase in migrants was a factor contributing to “financial stress.”

He wrote: “The district has seen an increase in PreK-12 student enrollment, especially among our migrant students, as well as unprecedented pressures on special education, transportation and services for English Learners.” Our main priorities were to retain teaching staff, support the large influx we received of students this year and provide the English Learner Services they required.

He added, “In order for us to be able to accommodate the increase in student population we had to make budget adjustments across the board.” “The situation is fluid while we gather more information and lobby for additional funding by the state.”

Parents have taken to Facebook to express dismay over the news.

How are 150 Stoughton school students going to get there now? Yesterday, we received word that our son and 149 other students had lost their seats on the school bus …. “Talk about Stoughton Pride,” said one parent. They didn’t offer any alternative options like paying for a taxi, which we would have done because we had no other way to get our son to school. This town disgusts me. My kid has to walk three miles straight up Route 138 to get to school and back! We are essentially in North Easton. What is the plan for all these families? Unbelievable.”

Another parent stated, “Stoughton MA has just cut bus service to students.” Parents are being told to arrange their own transportation. There are 237 migrant households in the Town, and they all receive guaranteed bus service. The cuts in bus service are only for Stoughton legal residents. The schools requested an increase in funding of 7.1% for this year and got it. The Town Manager says that migrants are straining the financial resources of the town. Two buses will be dedicated exclusively to migrants.”

Stoughton Public Schools referred Fox News Digital to a statement it issued to parents when asked for a comment.

Thomas Calter, the Stoughton town manager, wrote to Massachusetts Governor. Maura Shealey, in February, stated that 237 migrant households had moved to their community. This has an “adverse effect” on the budget, the economic development, and the safety of the community.