Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents urge action after Homeell schools cut courtesy busing; crossing guards, sidewalks and fees debated
Summary
Parents and residents urged the township and the school board to act after the district eliminated courtesy busing, citing dangerous walking routes, equity concerns and a $500 subscription deposit for paid buses. Speakers asked for immediate hazardous-route reviews and interim crossing-guard funding.
A wave of residents urged Homeell officials to act after the school district ended courtesy busing and introduced a paid subscription program with a $500 nonrefundable deposit for September service.
"This is not a political issue. This is about the safety of children," parent Margarita Borgl told the committee, describing busy intersections, long stretches without sidewalks and inadequate lighting on many walking routes.
Parents and community advocates asked the township to use statutory hazardous-route procedures to review the walking routes the district expects students to use, to deploy crossing guards at high-risk intersections and to work with the school district on short-term shared solutions. One committee staff estimate put an initial crossing-guard cost at roughly $90,000 for a program of about 10 guards (estimated $50/day per guard for school days); officials said a final number would be returned after route analysis.
Community objections also included the district's subscription-payment timeline: parents said a June 5 email required a $500 nonrefundable deposit by June 11 while many households face uncertain September schedules. "The district is asking families to make an irreversible $500 financial commitment within six days' notice," said Anna Leavine.
Township role and limits: Committee members said the township cannot unilaterally restore a board service but has statutory duties to participate in hazardous-route reviews under N.J. law and can provide crossing guards and safety infrastructure on township roads. Officials said they were working with the school district, engineers and police to finalize routes and to estimate crossing-guard and infrastructure needs before September.
Representative quote: "Sidewalks should exist before transportation is removed," a parent said during the public hearing.
What residents asked for: an immediate joint hazardous-route review using state criteria, publication of the routes under review, a short-term plan for crossing guards and prioritized sidewalk or lighting projects that can be completed before school begins.
