School Bus Route Concerns To Be Addressed By Bridgewater-Raritan District

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Concerns over school bus routes being too long are being addressed by the Bridgewater-Raritan School District.

"Several routes are too long and are not advantageous for our students and families. This was a mistake on our part, which we admit and are working to correct," said the district in a letter sent to the school community on Friday.

The routes were released to parents on Wednesday, one week before the first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Since then, parents have taken to social media and reached out to school officials over concerns that their elementary school children were on a bus for an hour or more.

"Throughout the week, we have received notifications related to longer routes and later drop-off times, specifically at the primary school level. We have listened to the feedback from our families and agree with their conclusions," said the district.

The district said it is working on the transportation issues, but not every problem will be fixed before classes begin.

"Please understand that not all issues will be resolved before the start of the school year, but we will continue to work until we reach a satisfactory solution," according to the district.

Families are asked to check PowerSchool on Sunday for the most up-to-date information regarding your student’s transportation.

The Bridgewater Township Police also issued a statement on Thursday acknowledging the concerns circulating within the community about a potential change in bus service.

As a result, Mayor Matthew Moench directed the Bridgewater Township Police Department to gather facts from the School District to ensure the safety of students to school.

Following consultation with the school district, Bridgewater police reported that the issue "only impacts a handful of students across the district and is not a widespread matter."

The department also said, "Public safety and protecting and serving the community, especially Bridgewater children, continues to be the utmost priority. We will always stand at the ready to assist the district to ensure Bridgewater Township students have a safe route to school."

Bridgewater police said parents and community members with questions or concerns about school transportation should contact the Bridgewater-Raritan School District directly at 908-685-2777 or reach out to their local school principal.

For public safety concerns, the police department said residents can call 908-722-4111.

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