West Orange School Official Reacts To Concerns Over Busing Cuts

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Hundreds of students in West Orange may need to find a different way to get to school due to upcoming cuts to “courtesy busing” in the district. But there’s a somber financial reality behind the decision, Superintendent Scott Cascone says.

Last week, administrators in the West Orange Public School District issued a reminder to parents and students about upcoming cuts to courtesy/hazardous busing for the 2021-2022 year. Read More: West Orange Schools Roll Out Busing Cut To Help Balance Budget

The district’s announcement raised some eyebrows among some local parents, who had a common question: does this affect my kid – and how?

“I am an upset grandmother, extremely concerned about these kids and hardworking parents,” a community member stated on social media.

On Tuesday, Cascone released a follow-up statement to help clarify the situation for local families. He said:

“Dear West Orange Public School Families, I am writing to provide some additional information, clarity, and perspective relative to the cuts to courtesy/hazardous bussing in grades 6-12.

“The board and I understand your concerns and we've heard your advocacy. We are listening and are working towards a solution. The board and district are pursuing alternate revenue streams in an attempt to restore these routes for the upcoming year. Updates will be provided to the community as soon as additional information becomes available.

“To further explain, and as outlined in a previous correspondence, school districts are responsible under state law to provide bussing to all students in grades 9-12 who reside 2.5 miles or more from the school which they attend. Students in grades K-8 residing 2 miles or more from their school are likewise entitled to school district provided transportation.

“Presently, the district offers courtesy bussing to 670 students, in grades 6-12, who reside less than these distances from school. Approximately 400 of those students are high school students with the remainder in grades 6-8. The implications for the discontinuation of these routes did not escape the board and/or administration; there was recognition that this would require those families and students to make alternate arrangements.

“Over the course of the last several months, the administration and board have gone to great lengths to be transparent in helping the community understand the financial challenges facing the district as well as the community. I encourage you to view my introduction to the final budget presentation at the May 3 public budget hearing in which I narrate the story of this year’s budget (starts at minute 6:00 and runs to minute 26:00). The top priorities have been to exert every effort to maintain the district's curricular and instructional landscape, as well as to exercise fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of the township, particularly when considering the economic impacts of the pandemic.

“In both the preliminary and final budget presentations, one of the key exhibits outlined the relative expenditures contained in the budget. For example: of the $177,292,506 total budget, approximately 58% or $102,072,889 are allocated to salaries, 16% or $28,117,379 are allocated to benefits, 9% or $16,175,235 are allocated to required special education services, and 4% or $6,740,018 is allocated to general education transportation. Also notable is a 26% increase in transportation costs, 14% increase in prescription coverage, 11% increase in medical coverage, 9% increase in dental coverage, an 8% increase in out of district tuition, as well as estimated increases in salaries with pending negotiations with the district’s three collective bargaining units for a total increase in expenditures of $8,171,369.

“These expenditures represent approximately 87% of the overall budget.

“The remaining discretionary expenditures reside in the area of instruction, support and operations, maintenance and security. All discretionary instructional and non-instructional expenses were cut by 20% and 10% respectively to balance the budget. As stated throughout the development of the budget process, what made this particular budget even more challenging was the funding necessary to complete additional remediation to the district's HVAC systems and security upgrades.

“Ultimately, the administration and board erred on the side of programmatic integrity and staffing, striving to maintain class sizes at their current levels, as well as adding seven certificated positions to the budget including four special education teachers, two academic interventionists at the middle schools, and an occupational therapist.

“Had the courtesy bussing remained in the budget, it would have necessitated additional cuts of certificated instructional staff. It is also worth noting that between the approval of the proposed budget on March 18 and the passing of the final budget on May 3, of the original 28 positions slated for removal, 22 were restored, largely in response to community advocacy for these programs. I believe this speaks to this administration's and Board of Education’s willingness to listen to its constituents, understand, and serve their will to the greatest extent possible.

“I thank you in advance for your time and attention and wish you a good week ahead.”

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