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Board debates proposed change to transportation limits that would make thousands of students walk or be driven to school
Summary
Board discussion over Proposition 2 — a May ballot measure to change minimum and maximum distance rules for district transportation — focused on an estimated $1.75 million savings, broad community impacts (including nearly 3,000 additional walkers), and concerns about safety, timing and transparency for families and parochial schools.
A resolution to place a transportation change — labeled Proposition 2 in the district presentation — on the May ballot drew extended debate at Sachem Central School District’s March 26 board meeting. The measure would revise K‑8 minimum walking/transport distances from one-half mile to one mile, change 9–12 minimums to 1.5 miles and reduce the maximum high‑school transport radius from 25 miles to 15 miles. Administration estimated the change would save about $1,750,000 if adopted.
During the presentation, Michelle Serakis explained how the change would affect parochial-school routing: because the district would still be required by state rules to transport parochial students who fall within the new limits, the district would replace smaller van shuttles with centralized large‑bus pickup locations. She said Saint Anthony’s students would be routed to Nokomis and Saint John the Baptist students to Seneca as centralized pickup points; parents would be responsible for getting students to the central stops.
Board members and several public speakers said the…
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