Residents Concerned Over Cuts To Courtesy Busing In South Brunswick Schools

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – During the last Board of Education meeting, a number of parents from the community expressed their displeasure and concern over the discontinuation of courtesy busing in some neighborhoods.

Expressing their concern over student safety, parents urged school administrators and BOE members to reconsider their decision to cut busing for around 250 families.

According to state rules, the school district has to provide busing for K-8 students who live more than 2 miles from the school. For 9 to 12 grade students the limit is 2.5 miles. Any bus service provided to students who lives closer is considered “courtesy busing.”

Due to state aid cuts, South Brunswick School District had to do away with courtesy busing for the upcoming school year.

But parents are concerned about students reaching school safely.

“What I would ask you to do is consider the alternate route that has been suggested for the kids to use is not even a route,” said resident Rajesh Soni. “The road is not walkable, the road doesn’t get clean, it is not covered by anybody, it is slippery and dangerous.”

Resident Vivek Kumar told the BOE there were ways to prioritize budgeting so that important services were not cut for students. "Prioritization in terms of what you what value is an important aspect of budgeting,” Kumar said. “Taking away busing services from 250 families, specifically for 5- to 12-year-olds, I don’t think that’s a justified cost.”

But did this decision by the school district come as a surprise? Not really, if one were to go back to all budget and BOE meetings held since March this year.

Based on Patch’s previous reporting, in March Superintendent Scott Feder sounded the alarm when the state informed the school district of the proposed aid cut of more than $4 million during the 2023-24 school year.

Faced with the deficit, Feder had told residents that the district would have to optimize, cut/reduce expenditure while reducing services like busing, music programming, extracurricular programming etc. These cuts were essential to avoid cutting funds from mental and physical health programs; building safety and security; student academic support and student behavior management support. More: State Aid Cut: What Does South Brunswick District Stand To Lose?

The same month, Feder and Board President Lisa Rodgers testified before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, telling lawmakers the state’s S2 funding formula was “fundamentally flawed” and how it hurt schools and students. More: S2 Funding Formula Flawed, South Brunswick Super Tells Lawmakers

Anticipating the budget cuts, the district had also formed a budget committee in fall last year to help them navigate the cuts. The committee included 42 residents from different walks of life. More: New School Budget Committee Holds First Meeting In South Brunswick

In May, the district adopted the 2023-24 budget with some staff cuts and tax increases for residents. More: South Brunswick BOE Adopts Budget With Staff Position Cuts, Tax Hike

At that time, Feder told residents that courtesy busing will be reduced to save money. Four route packages will be reduced, impacting around 250 families and saving the district $400,000 in the upcoming school year.

The school district also went a step further and told the community that the 2024-25 school year would be in jeopardy, as the district could possibly face a shortfall of $13 million with the state continuing to slash funds. More: 2024-25 South Brunswick School Year Could Be In Jeopardy: Officials

“We are at a point in our budget where we can find money by taking money from somewhere else. We chose not to do that,” Feder said during last week’s meeting. “The Board and administration recommended that this was the least of the evils.”

“We cannot find $400,000 without upsetting people and that is a horrible situation we are in.”

Meanwhile, the district is working with the Township to widen the path students are expected to take to school. They have also enlisted the services of a civil engineer to do a study on whether a crossing guard would be required for Viking Way, which is about half a mile from school.

More:

Schools Could Lose Mental Health Center Funding In South Brunswick

State Grants $2.8M In Stabilization Aid To South Brunswick Schools

$2.8M Not Enough To Offset Deficit In South Brunswick: School Officials

South Brunswick Schools To Lose $4M In State Aid In 2023-24

State Aid Cut: How Community Advocacy Can Help South Brunswick Schools

Could New Deal Ease Funding Woes At South Brunswick Schools?

South Brunswick Schools May Still Lose Over $1M Under New Deal

Advocacy Needed To Prevent Future Aid Cuts To South Brunswick Schools

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