West Orange Schools Roll Out Busing Cut To Help Balance Budget

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Courtesy/hazardous busing is being cut for some students in the 2021-2022 West Orange Public School District budget, administrators recently reminded local parents.

On May 11, the district’s director of transportation, Elena McFarland, wrote:

“In order to comply with the approved 21-22 budget for the school district, the transportation services categorized as courtesy and/or hazardous have been removed for the 2021-2022 school year for grades 6-12. This notice provides clarity concerning the removal of courtesy/hazardous transportation by the West Orange Board of Education for budgetary reasons. Courtesy/hazardous transportation is not a requirement under NJAC 6A and the district does not receive funding from the state of New Jersey for this transportation.”

The statute reads as follows:

6A:27-1.4 Students who shall be transported

(a) Transportation shall be provided to public school students who reside remote from their assigned school of attendance, non-public school students who reside remote from their school of attendance and meet the eligibility criteria of NJAC 6A:27-2.2, and special education students who reside remote from their assigned school or who require transportation services in accordance with their IEP.

1. The words “remote from the school of attendance” shall mean beyond 2.5 miles for high school students in grades 9 through 12, and beyond 2 miles for elementary school students in grades preschool through 8.
2. For the purpose of determining eligibility for the student transportation, measurement shall be made by the shortest route along public roads or public walkways.

McFarland continued:

“West Orange Public Schools has been offering a service above and beyond the state requirements. Funds from the state of New Jersey have not been and cannot be applied to this transportation cost. Transportation for general education students consumes approximately 4 percent of the West Orange Public Schools’ budget. To ensure our students continue to receive uninterrupted educational services, the decision was made to balance our budget by eliminating the courtesy/hazardous transportation services for students in grades 6-12 within the district. Due to the wording of the statute, there is no process for an appeal.”

Superintendent Scott Cascone offered more details about the decision in a May 14 letter:

“Earlier in the week parents, guardians, and caretakers of students in grades 6 through 12 received a letter from Mrs. McFarland, the director of transportation, informing them of the removal of courtesy/hazardous busing for students in grade through 6 through 12 in the 2021-22 school year budget. This reduction was presented to the public at both the proposed budget meeting on March 18 and the final budget presentation on May 3. The letter served as a preliminary advisory; any families and students who will be impacted by this reduction will be advised directly as soon as possible. The district is in the process of updating the street directory to ensure that the information that is shared is accurate.”

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