ALLENTOWN — The school board has decided to spearhead discussions with Upper Freehold and Allentown about the possibility of creating sidewalks on the school campus along High Street.
During the Dec. 3 Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education meeting, Upper Freehold resident John Nanni proposed creating a sidewalk leading from the rear of the Heritage Green development along Ellisdale Road into the school campus. Nanni said the sidewalk could solve student and resident safety issues, could help alleviate busing costs, could make the sports fields more accessible to seniors and people with disabilities, and could better connect areas of Upper Freehold with downtown Allentown.
“This is not necessarily a school district issue as much as it is a community issue,” Nanni said.
Nanni said the sidewalk issue is also a financial issue. He said students living in the Heritage Green development can see the schools from their homes but have to be bused because they have no path to walk to school.
“It’s a waste of tax dollars having to bus kids from Heritage Green,” Nanni said.
Nanni noted that Ellisdale Road, which is the road students would use to walk to school, does not have a sidewalk. Board member Lisa Herzer also noted that South Main Street, which is the second road students would use to walk to school, does not have a sidewalk either.
Nanni asked the board to coordinate with Allentown and Upper Freehold on the sidewalk issue and to seek state funding for the project if it moves forward.
Board members also agreed to look into the feasibility of connecting the Winchester Estates and Galloping Brook developments to the school campus with sidewalks.
Board Vice President Bill Borkowski said the board should look into whether creating sidewalks across campus would provide a cost savings to the school district. The board asked the school district’s Business Administrator Viola Yosifon to look into the potential savings of such a project.
Board members did have some reservations about putting sidewalks through the school campus. Some members cited that the paths would encourage more pedestrian traffic across campus, as they would provide a method of access to downtown Allentown.
“I think there would be a benefit to connect but as a school district we need to make sure the sidewalk benefits the schools,” Herzer said. “I think it’s a great idea that needs to be pursued, even if it is just to say [to Upper Freehold and Allentown], ‘Hey get together and discuss this.’”
Board member Patricia Hogan said she is not sure all parents in the Heritage Green development would look favorably on the elimination of busing. Hogan said some would have concerns with elementary and middle school children walking to school.
When Hogan inquired what the state guidelines are for busing students to school, Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said all school districts must provide busing to students that live 2 miles or more away from campus. He said whether or not the sidewalks would eliminate the need for courtesy busing would depend on where they are placed on campus.
Fitzpatrick said the board could form a committee to look into the issue of creating sidewalks from all of the housing developments surrounding the school campus. He warned the board of extraordinary costs to complete such a project as some of the sidewalks would have to cross a stream.
“The cost of crossing the stream would far exceed placing the bridge over Doctors Creek [for the middle school project],” Fitzpatrick said. “The stream that comes through Breza Road and the wetland area is more substantial than Doctors Creek. A sidewalk wouldn’t be inexpensive.”
Board President Joseph Stampe said the school district may be able to save money on busing if it creates sidewalks but it has a “whole host of other issues to consider” before doing so.
Stampe asked Fitzpatrick, Borkowski, Hogan and board member Howard Krieger to set up an appointment with Upper Freehold and Allentown officials to talk about the possible sidewalk project and the overall lack of sidewalks connecting the Heritage Green area to downtown Allentown. He also directed the group to ask township and borough officials about potential shared services for cost savings. He noted that Upper Freehold helps pay for courtesy busing of students.
Fitzpatrick said if the board moves forward with the sidewalk project, it would then have to consider whether to place paraprofessionals with walkie-talkies along the sidewalks to ensure student safety before and after school and whether to place lighting along the route.
Board member Joseph Calvitti said the board has to get the community involved in the sidewalk discussion.