Maplewood Parents Sign Petition As Kids 2 Miles From School Can't Be Bused

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood School District says it can't afford to bus kids who live less than 2 miles from school this fall. The announcement has set off a debate and petition, which 1,420 parents had signed by Friday morning.

Organizers noted that the district is in the second year of a new integration program, meaning kids don't always go to the school near their house. If the district can't bus these students, they say, it may impact low-income families the most.

"The District cannot, and must not, assume that every SOMA student is capable of walking up to 60 minutes, twice a day, for the entire school year," wrote organizers. "This is especially true in light of SOMA's multiple high-traffic roads and hazardous intersections."

The petition asks that the distance limit be lowered to 1 mile instead.

Missing Work

In an update Thursday, the organizers shared that Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis told Village Green that he's hopeful the one-mile limit can be instituted by January. But that may not satisfy parents who say they'll have to scramble in fall.

Politico covered the controversy, noting that one mom said it may make her unable to work at her teaching job.

"Because her son and younger daughter will be attending a school that’s 1.9 miles from their home and because the school’s before- and after-care programs are full, she won’t be able to return to her own teaching job and will need to stay home to transport them to and from school," the outlet reported.

A petition signer wrote, "It seems obvious that the Intentional Integration Initiative can only be successful if the district expands bussing to enable children to attend their designated school."

"K-3 walking to Marshall from Maplewood? South Orange Avenue is busy. That's too far," wrote another commenter.

See the petition here.

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