Lindenhurst Students Ineligible To Use School Bus, Parents Frustrated

LINDENHURST, NY —Several parents are frustrated, after more than 100 Lindenhurst students are no longer eligible to ride the bus to school, due to a district policy.

In a statement to Patch from Superintendent Anthony J. Davidson, the Lindenhurst Union Free School District and bus company conducted a routine audit one year ago of urgent eligibility zones.

"Eligibility is based on school policy which must be in alignment with State Regulations, as transportation costs are often reimbursable from State aid," the statement said. "Once our policy is set, then we are not at liberty to reduce the required mileage without a voter referendum."

The district then decided to forgo bus service to ineligible riders for the 2022-2023 school year. Otherwise, it could face serious consequences.

The statement continued:

"Now that the District is aware of the ineligibility of some riders, we could be fined for noncompliance and/or forfeit State aid if we were to continue transporting students despite their ineligibility."

About 110 out of 5,700 students in the district were considered ineligible to ride the bus. Families were notified in August 2021 and again in February, in "order to plan ahead for alternative transportation methods", the district said.

However, the decision came as a surprise for several parents, who say they learned of it about two weeks before the school year started. Parents expressed concerns of their children's safety on social media, as many must now walk through high-traffic areas.

According to its website, district policy states that students in grades K through 5 are eligible for bus transportation if they live three-quarters of a mile from school. Students in grades 6 through 8 are eligible if they live one mile from school, and grades 9-12 are eligible if they live 1.5 miles from school.

The new policy will be revisited and discussed at further Board of Education meetings, to possibly accommodate expanded transportation, the statement said.

"The district is sensitive to the needs of our families and acknowledges the inconvenience this recalculation has caused for those affected," they said.