Transporting Our Students To And From School
By the Pennsauken Board of Education: Nick Perry, President; Allyson Meloni-Scavuzzo, Vice President; Cheryl Duffy; Michael Hurley; Diane Johnson; Leona Moss; Meg Snyder; Orlando Viera; and JoAnn Young
The purpose of any school district transportation services department is to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of students to and from school and school-related activities. New Jersey law defines the rules governing the transportation of students. The Pennsauken Board of Education has a long tradition of providing transportation services that far exceed what the State requires.
For example, statute requires that all in district students who live more than two miles from their home to school in grades kindergarten through eight will be transported. Pennsauken Schools buses these students at one mile or greater from home to school.
At the high school level, the statute requires all in district students be transported at two and one-half miles or more from their home to school. Pennsauken Schools buses ALL high school students.
Students with disabilities are also provided transportation to school if it is part of their individualized education plan, as defined by law. Also, any hazardous routes for potentially walking children (living under one mile from school) are identified by both the school district transportation officials and the Pennsauken Police Department using guidelines defined in the law. If a hazardous route is identified, the student is transported regardless of the distance from home to school.
Many middle schools and high schools in our area have discontinued “perimeter” after school busing for students who participate in extra-curricular activities. In Pennsauken, the Board of Education has continued this service for our students and families to encourage participation in school-related activities and to ensure safe travel home for students who stay beyond the school day.
Our Board of Education policies on transportation are clear. They have not been changed, nor has there been any discussion by the Board to change them. The transportation of our students is not only a high safety priority, but it is also a fiscal priority, as the necessary dollars are in our budget to ensure that this transportation plan continues safely and efficiently.
Late last May, it came to the Board’s attention that the results of a state audit may force us to change our policies to reflect the statutory requirements noted earlier in this article. To be clear, the Board was neither aware that this change was pending, nor has an audit report been completed and submitted to the district as of the writing of this article. Therefore, we are not changing any transportation policy or procedure until we are directed to do so.
For more information on our transportation services, please visit www.pennsauken.net and find “Transportation” under the Departments tab.
The Board of Education wishes all students and families a smooth transition to a successful school year.
Board Bit Of The Month
The Pennsauken Public School District transports over 5,000 students to and from school every day in a four-tiered bus system.
