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September 13, 2021

Dear CPS Families,

Chelsea Public Schools recognizes that some families have had difficulty accessing door-to-door transportation so far this school year.  This is not unique to Chelsea and is due to a shortage of bus drivers locally and nationwide.  In response, Governor Baker is calling upon the Massachusetts National Guard to provide service in multiple school districts across the state. 

Fifteen Guard members will soon arrive to support Chelsea by driving NRT (North Reading Transportation) school vans. The communities of Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell and Lynn will all be receiving this assistance.

As with any school transportation worker, all activated Guard personnel will complete vehicle training to ensure the safety of children and families starting on Tuesday, September 14. They will not begin driving school transport vans until after their training has been completed. 

The Guard personnel will be in uniform while driving, but will not be armed. All drivers will meet all state and local health and safety measures, and they will also be accompanied by Bus Monitors during their routes. 

This public-private collaboration between NRT, Chelsea Public Schools, the City of Chelsea, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Governor of Massachusetts will help meet the needs of families and students in Chelsea. This will ensure that students are picked up for school on time and returned home on time, so that they can have a productive day in school. 

Chelsea Public Schools is grateful for this collaborative effort among various state and local agencies to benefit our students and families. Additional communication will be forthcoming regarding the National Guard’s school transportation service in Chelsea.

Sincerely,

Dr. Almi G. Abeyta

Superintendent

Chelsea Public Schools