Frustrations Over Busing, Lunch As School Restarts In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A new school year started with two speed bumps in West Orange: busing issues and new lunch block procedures at the high school.

“The beginning of the year has brought some delays in the area of transportation services,” Superintendent Hayden Moore recently wrote in a letter to the school community.

“I want to assure you that the issues are being addressed and remedied, and I thank you for your patience,” Moore said, sharing a recent communication from the district’s director of transportation, Gregory Cohen, which has more details.

The letter reads:

“As the Director of Transportation, I want to personally apologize for the rocky start to this school year regarding our busing services. We understand the challenges and frustrations that parents/guardians may have faced, and I assure everyone that we are diligently working to resolve all transportation issues as quickly as possible. While we anticipated the usual beginning-of-the-year challenges, this year presented unexpected difficulties. Notably, the implementation of the new software has led to complications with the new routing system. For the most up-to-date bus schedules and transportation information, we strongly encourage all parents/guardians to use the MY RIDE K-12 application. While PowerSchool has also been updated, please be aware that it cannot track the route in real time. The MY RIDE K-12 application is the most accurate platform to track a student's bus in real time.”

Here's how to receive bus alerts in the MY RIDE K-12 application, the letter said:

1. Open the MY RIDE K-12 App
2. Go into the settings
3. Turn on all three notification options: a) Enable student scan, b) Enable ETA early/late, c). Enable ETA reminders

Cohen's message continued:

“The MY RIDE K-12 Application is designed to send a notification when the bus arrives at the bus stop or at the school and also where it is located along the route in real time. All students are expected to be at the bus stop 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after their scheduled pick up time. Please remember the MY RIDE K-12 App tracks the bus, not the individual student. Once students receive their new ID cards, accurate tracking of students will occur once they swipe their ID card to get on and off the bus. Parents/Guardians will receive notice when the new ID cards become available. At this time, we are working with our contracted vendors who transport our preschool students to provide tracking of those routes.”

“We deeply appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through these issues,” the district’s transportation director concluded. “If you encounter any problems, please reach out to our transportation department by phone 973-669-5357 or by email transportation@westorangeschools.org for assistance. We are committed to making the necessary improvements to ensure a smooth and successful school year for all.”

LUNCH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL

Meanwhile, another speed bump took place involving lunch block procedures at the high school, administrators reported.

According to a letter from principal Oscar Guerrero:

“I wanted to take a moment to address some recent discussions circulating on social media regarding our new lunch block procedures. It's important to clarify these changes to ensure everyone understands how we're striving to maintain a safe and supportive environment for our students. First and foremost, let me assure you that no student will ever be denied access to the cafeteria during lunchtime. Contrary to some claims, all students have the opportunity to enjoy their lunch if they choose to do so. Our aim is to create a setting that is both safe and conducive to learning, especially during our common lunch block when over 2,100 students are navigating their lunch hour.”

Guerrero continued:

“To manage this effectively, we've introduced a new practice. At the beginning of the lunch block, students have about 20 minutes to make their way to the cafeteria. Once there, a signal prompts students to remain in that area for the duration of lunch unless they have a valid reason to leave, such as meeting with a teacher, participating in a club activity, or using the library. Students who are delayed due to a class or activity will still have access to the cafeteria to get their lunch. There is no strict deadline for entering the lunchrooms. It's important to note that no student is being prevented from accessing lunch. Our goal is to reduce hallway congestion and minimize disruptions during this time, while ensuring a safe and orderly environment for everyone. For students with labs during lunch, accommodations are made to ensure they have access to both their lab and the cafeteria as needed.”

“This new approach is still in its early stages, and we will continue to monitor and adjust as necessary to best serve our students,” Guerrero added. “Feedback from our community is valuable, and we are committed to refining our procedures to improve the overall experience. I hope this explanation clarifies any misunderstandings and assures you that our priority remains providing every student with a supportive and nourishing environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.”

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