Board of Education officials tonight have reached a tentative deal with State officials, Township Officials and private schools that would restore courtesy busing for public and private schools, officials have confirmed to TLS.
The last-minute deal comes about 10 days after officials announced that courtesy busing was cut due to the budget shortfall, and approximately 11,000 students from both public and private schools would no longer receive busing.
“A tentative deal has been reached, and details of the deal will be hammered out over the next two days,” an official who wished to remain anonymous tells TLS.
This agreement would restore busing for both public and private schools.
Details of the deal are expected to be announced in the coming days.
[TLS]
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Really? Wonder where the money is coming from? Certainly can’t get the parents to pay for it.
I am hopefully optimistic, but I do wonder how much of this agreement will fall on the already overburdened taxpayers
I’ll believe it when I see it
the past has shown that nothing is free in this world. Free means that something else will have to give. The only question is what that something else will be.So what are we gaining by having free busing? Absolutely nothing!
Of course we never doubted it for a second. They always have some trick up their sleeve…
schools and bus companies will not this major loss of income be dismissed so quick.. they will get the taxpayers to pay more instead of doing something that will save money for the taxpayers like have multiple schools in the same area use one route…
WHY IS EVERYONE SO NEGATIVE.JjUST APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT IS BEING DONE THIS GOES FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AS WELL AS FOR THE NON-PUBLICS
If we rally together great things can be accomplished. Just look at Kiryas Joel and what the can get for the 8000 votes they have in their pocket. .. imagine what our 25000 votes would be worth?
Sounds great ! Realize this can only be done with a tax increase.
Obviously we need these services none the less can we afford to keep paying for it. Now is the time for our elected officials Township committee men and BOA to begin making the tough decisions. I have an idea how about a 5% spending cut across the board no worries about any special interests everyone is the same.
Imagine what would happen if any CEO would insist on 5% cuts and his dept heads would say that its not possible.Do you think they would be replaced ????? Seriously cut 5% across the board or replace them all. I believe that our elected officials have the integrity to this if you demand that they do so.
This busing issue has been going on for at least 20 years. if everyone would realize that it was originally started when Lakewood owned their own buses and that it was started because the schools were on triple session and there were no lighting or side walks because we were mainly farms and small communities. There were 6 public schools, 1 Cathlolic School, 1 non secarian school and the Calvery School. There were three yeshivas at the time and the Dary School. As this is called Courtesy busing, meaning that it can and should be disbanded. There isn’t enough revenue collected from taxpayers to afford this busing anymore. At one time it cost the township 908 dollars per student to transport to school. If a family is busing 10 kids to different schools they are certainly not paying their share of the busing bill.
A family that buses more children than their school taxes cover should be billed by the township for the amount that is not covered. This would take the burden off the township and place it where it should be placed: The family that is undercharged for school taxes and busing costs.
I am sure most residents of Lakewood, especially the seniors and others that support the school taxes would take this as a solution.
When a family registers their children for each school and the routes are calculated, it would then be able to assess how much that family would owe the township.
Residents who send their children to private schools do it as their own desicion. Since a township offers public education they do not have to offer any services that are supplied by public funds. If private school parents still feel they are not getting their moneys worth then move to another city in NJ and try to do this there..
You are stealing public funds from public school children.
If you want busing, have your schools purchase buses, train the bus drivers, figure out how much more to raise the tuitions to pay for the insurance, upkeep and payroll and pay for it,
If you still feel you want courtesy busing, do the same, figure out the cost per child per school, the cost of running the busses, insurance, etc, and raise the tuitions. Do not take it from public funds. You are not entitled!!!
Busing is less expensive than having all the private school children attending public school in town. Imagine the cost to build schools that would be needed if all the private school children decided to attend public school. The town of Lakewood could not afford that. Besides, who would want their elementary school student walking 2 miles to school everyday?
to “just wondering”, why do you think someone other than YOU should pay to send YOUR kids to school?
I sense a hater period.
That said.
Now $$$wise let’s say you are right that private school children are not entitled bussing and btw alot of public school children are also affected. Do some simple math how much does it cost per child in public schools? The township should be alloted from the STATE that amount per student that goes to any school. Then there will even be a surplus due to the fact that bussing costs alot less than the full schooling.
Think reasonably:
* Public school children are also affected by lack of bussing. The distance requirements for the children to be eligible for bussing under the current guidelines are not realistic. This is a safety concern for public and private school children alike
* The public school system would be in financial collapse if all the private students would attend. Bussing is a small price to pay.
*Traffic in this town would be a disaster if carpools would replace bussing.
To wat.
According to your logic why foes every public school parent think that someone other than them shoykd pay to send their kids to school. In Lakewood. 90 pert cent if the school budget is covered by 2 groups that do not use the schools. Seniors and nonpublic school parents
To number 12 The amount of property taxes are currently pay, is 10 times the amount I benefit from busing. i have 2 school aged kids, and have both residential and commercial property taxes for my business.Aside from that, I paid taxes for 10 years before I had any school aged children.
If you really want to get into it, I pay more then the median household income in income taxes alone every year. So no, I am not looking for someone to cover my expenses. It is likely that I am covering yours.
But really that is not the point I was making. The point was that the state has to modify it’s formula so Lakewood is treated fairly. All residents of Lakewood should be united in this. Internal squabbling is misguided and counterproductive.
Obviously you do not know the law. The schools district is responsible for busing all children to any school within a 20 mile radius.
MOMAS- HOw about we register all our kids in public school and bankrupt New Jersey in doing so! I am ready! They will then be legally obligted to over 10 per student for our district’s 35,000 children. Do that math and come back when you are done.