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Parents press board over elimination of courtesy busing; district sets subscription fee at $500 with $750 family cap
Summary
After months of debate and a consultant review, the board voted to set subscription‑busing at $500 a seat (family cap $750) for 2024–25, triggering heated public comment about safety for over 200 students who previously rode free under local practice.
Berkeley Heights residents overwhelmingly told the Board of Education on May 8 that eliminating longstanding courtesy (hazardous‑route) busing will make walking routes unsafe for many students. After public comment that included emotional appeals and specific roadway safety examples, the board set the subscription‑busing fee for 2024–25 at $500 per student with a $750 family cap.
During the budget and transportation discussion, administration explained that the 2024–25 budget assumes $126,000 of offsetting revenue from subscription busing. Transportation Director Miss Sheehan said the $126,000 figure is based on historical patterns (about 126 paid seats at $1,000 each in prior years) and that seat…
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