Parents: District's new school bus drop-off plan leaves kids to fend for themselves

Some parents are raising concerns about the Middle Country Central School District's revised bus stops for inclement weather.
The new plan comes after November's snowstorm that left some buses stuck, forcing drivers to let kids off to walk in the snow.
The district says the plan will provide a safe space for kids to be picked up or dropped off when inclement weather makes it impossible for buses to get to their assigned stops.
One of those stops is the Westfield shopping center. In parent Bob Eggerman's case, he says the drop-off would be about a half-mile from home.
"They expect (the kids) to fend for themselves from there up to the house, in what they consider the worst weather," he says. "I just don't know how it makes sense."
Grandmother Patty Alfredson is confused by the new plan.
"What happens if the parents are late?" she asks. "Do the buses sit and wait with them? I would want to make sure that they were OK."
The school district says the plan will not be used each time it snows -- only during the harshest winter weather conditions. But some parents say they want the original bus stops put back into place when the weather is bad. A robocall will alert parents about the bus stop changes.
A district spokesperson encourages parents to call its transportation office if they have questions about the plan or if additional accommodations are required.