Editor's Note: The following letter is from Scott Mellyn, a Stoughton father and firefighter, who appeared on FOX 25-TV with his two daughters on Sept. 21 discussing their views that the Stoughton Public School buses were overcrowded and it posed a safety risk to the student passengers.

Students were said to be sitting in the aisles because there were not enough room to sit three to a seat.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi said the complaint was “unsubstantiated.”

“In terms of overcrowding, the legal capacity is 77 students [allowing for 3 students to a seat],” she told Stoughton Patch. “However, the standard that [Director Support Services Joel] Harding has established is no more than 67 students on a secondary bus and no more than 70 at the elementary level.”

“Currently, we have 16 families on the waiting list for transportation,” Dr. Rizzi added.  “The allegation of overcrowding is without merit…We are not legally overcrowded or even at legal capacity.”

Mellyn clarifies his position here:

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This was not an act of sensationalism by a crackpot parent with a political agenda and spoiled kids. I was informed by my kids, who attend the middle & high school, that they were sitting in the aisles of the bus.

I asked if it was inconsiderate kids with bags on seats or was it truly over crowded. They stated it was easier to sit on their bags than try to pack onto a seat. I trust my kids judgment, they are Honor Roll students.

I informed the schools, more than once. The answer was it was being worked on. My anger at this point, I gladly admit, was based on my being a consumer. I paid $720 for a service that I felt I was not being provided. $360 per seat, I wanted a seat, not the edge of one.

I wanted to arm myself with real facts regarding seating capacity, so I researched. The maximum capacity number is arrived at in different ways. A 77-passenger bus means that yes, it can fit 77, but that number is arrived at by a manufacturers standard.

The school bus manufacturers use this formula "three smaller elementary school age persons or two adult high school age persons into a typical 39 inch school bus seat."

The bus I pay for is not going to any elementary schools.

I'll quote the NHTSA "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that all passengers be seated entirely within the confines of the school bus seats while the bus is in motion. Federal motor vehicle safety standard No. 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection requires that the interior of large buses provide occupant protection so that children are protected without the need to buckle-up. Occupant crash protection is provided by a protective envelope consisting of strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs. Persons not sitting or sitting partially outside of the school bus seats will not be afforded the occupant protection provided by the school bus seats"

I believed that validated my safety concerns. Is the NHTSA vague? I thought it was clear-cut.

I asked to talk to the superintendent to bump the problem to the top. I was told that 3 to a seat is legal and that's the conditions they will have to deal with. I believed that conflicted with the facts that I had read and provided here.

I admit, I didn’t really have a plan after that. I was considering writing to local media with my side of the story. Fox 25 contacted me, from a referral from a friend who knows one of the newscasters. I did not initiate the contact. I didn't want it to be a sensation, I wanted it to be fixed.

My anger over the fact that I was told that this is how its going to be may have prompted me to consent to being interviewed. I told them they can’t use my occupation as part of the story, it wasn’t pertinent. They contacted me just before it aired and asked again, so I agreed.

It was never my initial intent to have myself or my kids on the news. I wish it hadn't come to this, I still just want it to be dealt with. Thanks.

- Scott Mellyn