A crowd of over 140 people attended the Roslyn School District's Sept. 7 Board of Education meeting, one that was dominated by the district's new school bus cluster stop policy.

As in past meetings, residents continued to express their opposition to the new policy, one in which students are no longer picked up in front of their houses, but instead at various designated corner bus stops throughout the school district. The new policy applies only to students in grades 1-5. Kindergarten students will continue to be picked up in front of their houses.

Of the dozens of speakers to address the board, only one supported the cluster stop plan, recalling that back in the 1950s, Roslyn children had to walk to school, even under adverse weather conditions.

Those in opposition to the new policy based their concerns on several major issues, including their contention that children, ages 6-8 are being required to stand in a potentially dangerous street while waiting for the bus, that the bus stops are located on hills or steep inclines, that bus stops are out of the line of sight of a parent, that children are being required to cross busy intersections, and that children are being dropped off regardless if a parent is present to meet the bus.

In addition, there are concerns that buses may be overcrowded. One parent claimed that her child in second grade was required to sit four across in a seat on the bus because of overcrowding. Another parent brought his 7-year-old son to the meeting. The student simply said that he would "like to have a safe place to wait for the bus."

Other residents questioned whether the $125,000 in savings that is projected from the new policy would be achieved. In all, opponents of the policy are hoping for a resolution before the district is subject to more bad publicity.

Finally, over the weekend, fliers were distributed at major points of interest in Roslyn, including the Park at East Hills and Holiday Farms, all calling for a one-week bus boycott among school district residents.

Dani Klein, president of the BOE, said the district is looking for "consistency and safety" in its cluster stops.

"Safety is our primary concern," she said, adding that the BOE is reviewing each of the concerns made by school district parents. The BOE, she said, will also accept parental suggestions on alternative stops.

As far as overcrowding is concerned, the BOE, Ms. Klein said, is making sure that every child has a seat on the bus and is riding safely to school.

"We want to guarantee that each cluster stop is as safe as possible for each student," Ms. Klein said.

Interim Superintendent Gerald W. Dempsey announced the new policy in an Aug. 7 letter, one addressed to school district residents. The move, the superintendent said, was designed to bring greater consistency and cost efficiency to the district's busing operation.

Dempsey has also said that the BOE would consider designating alternate locations for any busing pickups, including having some at "mid-block" stops. The superintendent added that the district would deal with individual safety concerns when they come up.

At past meetings, school district parents have noted the lack of sidewalks in local residential neighborhoods. Without a sidewalk, parents claim, youngsters will have to walk on their neighbor's lawn, which remains a sticking point to some residents. There is also the matter of walking to bus stops during high snowfalls.