The LSTA will be raising the rates for non mandated busing to $180 per student for the coming school year. The current rate id $150. The Lakewood shopper reports the LSTA sent a letter that the actual cost of providing courtesy busing busing per student for a year is closer to $800. They were able to subsidize it for $15o but now the costs one up.
It is interesting to note that as per NJ law for nonpublic school transportation N.J.A.C.6A:27-1.5(F) parents who can not afford to pay even for the non mandated busing because of financial hardship may NOT be excluded from this transportation. Eligibility is based on the same guidelines for those who receive free or reduced meals under the lunch program.
"Students whose parent/guardian is unable to pay the cost of the transportation because of financial
hardship may not be excluded from this transportation. In determining financial hardship,
the criteria shall be the same as the Statewide eligibility standards established for free and
reduced price meals under the State school lunch program". (see here page 3)
so how do we get free non mandated bussing??
ReplyDelete$180 x 5 kids = $900 in addition to tuition, Sunday bussing etc... many people can not afford this!
Dont pay! they can not deny you busing
ReplyDeleteIt seems that if you qualify for the Lunch program you wont have to pay if you cant afford to.
they just wont send bus cards, won't help me. I think the schools need to be on board with this since we don't actually deal with lsta- we deal with the school...
DeleteCHUTZPA the LSTA charged full price last year but did not have busing from March to the end of the year because of corona. They never reimbursed parents for those months and now are raising the fee.
ReplyDeleteSomeone made a fortune because of that last year. The State sent the same funding as if there was bussing. Not sure who made out with the cash, maybe the busing companies, maybe LSTA, maybe both
DeleteThe Lakewood township discriminates against the orthodox students since it pays for the courtesy busing of all public school children while the private yeshivos have to pay a fee.
ReplyDeleteLSTA, Rosh Mosdos, Vaad leaders, askanim and all the Lakewood "Non Profit" owners are making more money off the tzibur than anyone would dream of.
ReplyDeleteEach one shmeering the other, wink wink. Shmeer lee ve'ani eshmor lach, shtiler hait All letoeles harabim of course.
Thus the well known saying "The business's that makes great profit are the non profits".
DeleteIn Lakewood this is certainly true
Don't be intimidated if they threaten not to provide transportation or wont send you a bus pass. It is illegal
ReplyDeletespeak to a rav about reporting them to the state if they blackmail you to pay. save all letters they send you for proof later on
ReplyDeleteIt is a gov agency
Deleteyou can report gov agency to the DOJ
DeleteWhat should be looked into is why private students are not getting hazardous busing when it is too dangerous to walk to school. Even those that live less than the 2 mile threshold must be able to walk safely to school. If not the town must provide mandatory busing but they are not giving it to any private schools.
ReplyDeleteChuldren can not walk on Cedarbridge or Cross street or rt 88 to school but if they live under 2 miles they have no transportation paid for even though the are eligible.
Please refer to some traffic study by township engineer Mr. Flannery. He says straight out that the new construction does not impact traffic. That being the case, the roads you mention should be perfectly safe.
DeleteUh oh. The LSTA $150 comment guy is back. Uh oh.
ReplyDeleteDear Comment editor, Boy you are quick! do you wait all day for this so you can give your hagaah?
Deleteyes its been a while since anyone made such a comment. it must have been hard for you.
Can we hire a lawyer ltoeles harabim
ReplyDeleteWhere is Aguda of NJ why are they not fighting this fee or hazardous busing. They made sure to fight for security monies so private achool students deserve the same protection and safety as public school students why is this different. People are forced to pay when according to the law they should be getting mandated busing.
Use the Westgate lawyer. He’s awesome.
DeleteWhy ask the agudah to fight a losing battle? just demand from them to put some $$$$ in your pocket. You hate them anyway may as well squeeze them for you benifit.
DeleteWhy are they not paying us back for 2020 when half the year there was no bussing?
ReplyDeleteThe schools should let parents know not to pay if they get the lunch programs
ReplyDeleteThis is fake news. The LSTA is a private entity and is not required to provide transportation for free to anyone.
ReplyDeleteNo it is not it was created by the dept of education as a consortium but if as you claim that it is private than it should be disbanded asap because what was done is hijacking the public right to transportation and taking it over unilaterally creating a private entity that is free and clear of any gov oversight rules and regulations.
DeleteThe right for mandated busing belongs to the people not powerful askanim and roshei mosdos.
The LSTA is Letoele$ Harabim!
Deletea little respect for mesiras nefesh
Last year we paid for a full year but only got a half year bussing and no refund.
ReplyDeleteLSTA was created as a private entity to provide non mandated bussing. Non mandated means you don't have a pre existing right to the bussing. It's courtesy bussing. They can provide it but don't have to.
ReplyDeleteAnd they are not obligated to provide courtesy bussing to low income families for free, since it is a private entity, not a govt agency.
This entire discussion is moot.
um, wrong. it was founded as a government agency.
DeleteIt is regulated to all state rules and laws why is lsta in charge of mandates busing who asked them to be in charge of it. Why are personell getting paid from the boe. They cant claim to not be beholden to any state laws such as provide free busing to those who cant afford it.
Delete