"I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve Hopewell Valley and hopefully bring some insight that might be helpful in solving this ongoing problem," Mr. Chipowsky said Wednesday
By John Tredrea
Michael Chipowsky has been named to the Valleywide task force on school busing.
Mr. Chipowsky, a Republican and the former chief of the Hopewell Township Police Department, was defeated by incumbent Democrat David Sandahl in the Nov. 7 Township Committee election.
The full committee voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Mr. Chipowsky to the task force, which was formed to study how best to respond to the school board’s plan to discontinue all school busing not required by state law. Under the proposal, an estimated 820 students would no longer receive busing.
"I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve Hopewell Valley and hopefully bring some insight that might be helpful in solving this ongoing problem," Mr. Chipowsky said Wednesday.
The task force met for the first time Nov. 1 and agreed on six basic things school busing should do: provide safe passage to school; adhere to all legal requirements; be cost-effective; have the minimal possible impact on school programs; be administratively efficient; and work within budget caps.
The task force was scheduled to hold its second session Wednesday evening after the HVN went to press.
Committee members made the following comments about the appointment:
"I think it was a nice gesture from the mayor to ask Mike to sit on the task force. I would be less inclined to accept a township position immediately following a hard-fought election. Mike Chipowsky is a true gentleman, a real asset to this community and we need him to stay involved," said Committeeman Mark Iorio Wednesday.
Mr. Sandahl said: "Mike has a great background and expertise in public safety and cares deeply about the safety of children, and I couldn’t think of a better addition to the task force."
Committeeman John Murphy added: "Mike has made a real contribution to our township in the past, and I’m glad he’s going to continue on with his civic service by working on this task force."
"Mike will add great value to the task force by bringing his experience in public safety, his knowledge of the township roadways and his obvious interest in the issue. I am very pleased that he has agreed to serve on the busing task force," said Mayor Vanessa Sandom, whose idea it was to make the appointment.

