Bristol Township School District Transportation Director Resigns

Bristol Township School District spokeswoman Eileen Kelliher confirmed to Patch Thursday morning that transportation director Marianne Cleary has resigned from her position.

Cleary took the $82,000-a-year transportation director position in early 2012 and was heavily criticized by parents for her handling of the plan that slashed the number of contracted bus routes from 95 to 61. The cuts reduced the transportation budget from $9.5 million to $7 million.

Many parents and students claimed the reduction in buses caused unsafe conditions. 

Parents took to school board meetings in September and early October to complain that the buses are overcrowded, run late and students with special needs were not being accommodated properly.

The district and school board worked with parents to fix some of the busing problems. By early October, a large majority of the issues were resolved, School Board President Earl Bruck said several weeks ago.

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To help alleviate problems, the district purchased several vans to transport students.

This school year is the final of the five-year contract that district and bus operator First Student have signed.

Many parents complained via social media and at board meetings that Cleary never fully addressed their concerns. Some said Cleary never properly returned their phone calls.

Kelliher said Cleary, who lives just outside Quakertown has accepted a "position with a organization closer to home."

"We have not as yet made a decision on whether she will be replaced from within, or whether we will make an outside hire," the spokeswoman added.

Cleary's last day with the district is November 13.