Would you let your child walk to school down Cedarbridge avenue, Cross street, County line, Rt 88 or any other hazardous road with no sidewalks? The answer is that even if you would let, the schools themselves don't allow kids to walk realizing the danger it is for their safety and the school District policy prohibits students from crossing roads deemed to be hazardous. (See below list of 30 streets in Lakewood designated as hazardous roadways.)
In Lakewood The township pays the costs to the BOE for all courtesy and hazardous busing of public school kids. Private school children pay out of pocket by opting in to courtesy busing through the LSTA a fee which is going up to $180 per year.
At a meeting January 6, 2021 to add amendments to the student transportation rules, the issue of bus safety under 2 miles was brought up but the state responded "traffic safety is not within the scope of the readoption with amendments".
In New Jersey if you are a private school student and don't qualify for mandated busing because you live less than 2 miles away you but it is not safe to walk you still have to pay for busing. NJ Law Whenever a district board of education agrees to provide nonmandated transportation to and from school for reasons of hazard, the district board of education shall adopt a
hazardous busing policy in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1.5. regarding the transportation of students who must walk to and from school along hazardous routes. The policy shall include a list of hazardous routes in the district requiring the courtesy busing of students and the criteria used in designating the hazardous routes. On the NJ.gov website it states that "Boards of education are not required by law to provide busing for students who live less than remote from school "even for safety reasons".
"Q. Is it a district's responsibility to provide transportation for students who live less than remote from school when hazardous road conditions exist?
A. Boards of education are not required by law to provide busing for students who live less than remote from school even for safety reasons. However, boards are permitted, at their own discretion and expense, to provide transportation for students who reside less than remote from school and may charge the student's parents or legal guardians for this service. Municipalities may also contract with boards of education for this service and charge the parents. This transportation service is called Subscription Busing.
Bill S2975. Transportation for Hazardous Walking Routes Act; requires school districts to provide busing for students required to walk to school along hazardous routes
List of streets designated hazardous by Lakewood township and BOE
1. Fourteenth Street (Across Madison)
2. Pine Street
3. Forest Avenue
4. Route 70
5. New Hampshire Avenue
6. Central Avenue
7. Cedarbridge Avenue
8. Kennedy Boulevard (East & West to Teaberry)
9. Route #9 (Madison Avenue & River Avenue)
10. Ridge Avenue (Brook Road over Lanes Mills)
11. County Line Road (West to East including Lanes Mills)
12. Park Avenue (From 2nd Street to County Line Road) – Elementary School Students Only
13. Ocean Avenue/Route #88 (From Lane Mills Road to Route 9)
14. Miller Road
15. Joe Parker Road
16. Cross Street
17. Hope Chapel Road
18. Chestnut Street
19. Squankum Road
20. James Street
21. New Hampshire Avenue
22. Locust Street
23. Washington Avenue
24. Kennedy Boulevard (Between Twin Oaks)
25. Vine Street
26. Clifton Avenue
27. Oak Street
28. Hillside Street
29. Williams Street
30. Prospect Street
I don’t think any street in Lakewood is really safe to cross
ReplyDeleteIt does not appear that Senator Singer is listed as a sponsor on this bill? Doesn't he represent our district??
ReplyDeleteThe point is equal treatment under the law. Why should private school students pay for a service that is paid for public school students!? Double standards don't work, in my book.
ReplyDeleteNo double standard, you're free to send to public school. You choose not to.
DeleteThere is equal treatment under the law. All are entitled to join the public school system. If you choose not to the state is not obligated to provide you bussing just as they do not pay for your private education. Perhaps if they felt that thousands would sign up to p.s. costing them a lot of money they would offer to pay but that's a matter of negotiating
ReplyDeletewrong. according to nj state law, the state and municipality are required to provide bussing for all children. it makes no difference if you go to private or public school.
DeleteThe safety of all children should be equal. The state finally realized this with security funding for private school students. The state has to protect children no matter where they go to school.
ReplyDeleteTachlis, where will the $ come from? Our district is broke, and so is the state.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who receives over $40k in government benefits throughout the year from all sources should have to pay for bussing, as they are considered high income. The rest of us who receive less, or receive nothing from the government, should get free bussing.
ReplyDelete