Some parents in Upper Freehold call proposed schedule disruptive
Frank D’Amico
UPPER FREEHOLD — Parents opposed to the Upper Freehold Regional School District’s proposed three-tier busing schedule had an opportunity to voice their opinions to district administrators this week.
The busing schedule, suggested by the Board of Education as a cost-saving measure, would be tied to three different school starting times in the district. Some parents said the plan would be too disruptive, including those whose children are not bused to school.
Students at Allentown High School, the middle school and the elementary school would start at three different times of the day. That would allow the district to transport students without adding an extra bus to its fleet, officials said.
Approximately 20 parents attended an informal meeting Monday afternoon in the Upper Freehold Elementary/Middle School media center.
Board President Lynne Meara, board members John Dawkins and Lee Hensley, interim Superintendent Thomas Vona, district Business Administrator Ann Murphy and Upper Freehold Elementary School Principal Ed Coldren attended.
The parents’ main objection was that the new bus schedule would be a complete disruption to their lives. They called it “unacceptable.”
Allentown residents who have children who walk to school were particularly concerned because they said older children would not be able to walk their younger siblings to school.
Some parents, including Cindy Koontz, said they have children at different grade levels and the schedule would cause problems in transportation.
“I live only two miles away, but I’d have to make seven, eight trips a day taking my children back and forth to school,” she said.
Parents said they were concerned children would be left waiting around at the school for parents who would make only one trip a day to pick up their children.
Another parent said this new schedule would interrupt family time like breakfast and could interfere with people’s professional obligations.
One parent said she was “dead against” the plan.
Under the plan, Allentown High School would begin at 7:20 a.m. It now starts at 7:45.
Upper Freehold Elementary/Middle School, which now starts at 8:25 a.m., would have two starting times. Middle school students would start at 8 a.m. and elementary school students would begin at 8:45 a.m.
Some parents were concerned the early starting time would create attendance problems at the high school.
Dr. Vona said students would have to get to school on time regardless of the starting time or it would be counted against them.
“Many high schools have started at 7:20 for years,” Ms. Meara said.
“I know this is going to be an inconvenience to a lot of people,” Mr. Hensley said. “It’s going to be an inconvenience to me and my family.”
Ms. Meara said she also understands the inconvenience of the proposed plan.
“That is why we’re telling you now and not Sept. 1,” Ms. Meara said. “This way there is time to arrange plans.”
She said school crossing guards have been notified about the proposed change.
Mr. Hensley said this busing plan has been under review for several years because bus overcrowding is an issue.
Dr. Murphy said the buses are at capacity now. Rather than spend money for another bus or two at $50,000 a piece, the bus schedule would free up buses to complete all the district routes.
“We can use extra buses for our sports team instead of having to lease out to somebody else,” Mr. Hensley said. “We can use our own drivers.”
Ms. Meara said the scheduling proposal is “an important move for the district.”
Ms. Meara said she would take all the comments from the meeting and present them to the board at Monday’s budget hearing.
“We’re just trying to save the district money,” Mr. Dawkins said.
Under the proposed $17.2 million budget for 2000-01, Upper Freehold taxpayers would see a 6 percent hike in their school taxes while Allentown’s increase would be 13 percent.
The tentative budget would result in a tax rate increase of 22 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for Allentown taxpayers and a 10-cent increase for Upper Freehold taxpayers.
If the budget is approved by voters April 18, Allentown taxpayers will pay $1.86 per $100, meaning the owner of a house assessed at $125,000 will pay $2,325, an increase of $275.
Upper Freehold taxpayers will pay $1.79 per $100, meaning the owner of a house assessed at $200,000 will have a school tax bill of $3,580 for 2000-01, an increase of $200.
Officials have said part of the increase is due to Plumsted Township’s gradual withdrawal from Allentown High School over the next three years. With those students leaving, the school district is losing tuition revenue that would reduce the need for higher local taxes.