Board of Education Expected to Vote on Restoring Courtesy Busing

The Board of Education is set to decide if courtesy busing should be reinstated for public school students at a special meeting Sunday, according to the meeting agenda.

Courtesy busing for grades 1 to 4 was cut in the 2011-2012 school budget, but money became available after the state announced the  as planned.

“The additional funds are available as a result of the postponement of the opening of the Shalom Academy Charter School until the 2012-2013 school year,” the meeting agenda says.

Sunday’s planned vote comes after the school to restore private school bus routes.  Some residents had criticized the bank for earmarking the donation only for private school students.

School officials have said consolidating private school stops would have saved the district $85,000 and impacted 2,000 students, while cuts to courtesy busing for public school grades 1 to 4 would save $260,000 and affect more than 500 students.

The cost of courtesy busing is not to exceed $300,000, according to the agenda. 

The district had budgeted $1.4 million for Shalom Academy, but the school did not submit a certification of occupancy on its proposed Englewood location, state education officials said. 

Safe Teaneck, a group that had opposed the route changes, said it encourages residents to turn out Sunday. The group launched an effort to oppose the routes after letters went out about changes to private school stops, but said in a statement it wants all busing restored. 

The Teaneck PTO also issued a statement in support of restoring the public school bus routes. 

"In order to restore equity between both the public and private school students, we strongly urge the Board of Education to reinstate courtesy busing for public school students of Teaneck," said the statement from PTO co-presidents Laverne Lightburn and Shelley Worrell. 

The meeting will be held at the Eugene Field School, starting at 9 a.m. Sunday.