News: Smithtown School Busing Revote
(Long Island, N.Y.) Controversial Smithtown busing schedule cutbacks left only a third of original bus riders in zones where buses service. The vote for cutbacks, which is part of the town’s new policy, is currently being challenged as fears rose concerning the unsafe routes taken by students on their way to school.
A public hearing was held at the district administration office building where many parents fought for a revote on a bill which reduced the number of students bused to school grounds. The previous vote passed by around eight-hundred of seven-thousand total votes. The vote would cut nearly $800,000 in costs for the school district.
Nonetheless, many are opposed to the plan and many parents stressed that the students’ safety should take precedence over the school board’s desire to save money. The new policy implemented a rule that would eliminate bus routes for elementary school students who lived less than a half-mile from the school. The higher grades would not be bussed if they were less than a mile away.
The policy also reduced the maximum distance that buses would travel from twenty to fifteen miles. Reports stated that some believe the ruling will not be overturned and said that the vote should not have been scheduled. Supporters of the vote stated that the cuts were needed, that there was no way around them, and that the original vote should be considered sufficient.
If reversed, the original vote that dates back to May would immediately reactivate last year’s bussing plan. The initial policy allowed all but seven-hundred students to take the bus to school. The current plan leaves over two-thousand students out of the bus schedule, and bussing will continue accordingly as of October 11th.
One official at the meeting joined the many with concerns about children walking in unsafe areas. Many Long Islanders felt that, even with the cuts, they will not see a drop in taxes.
Reports also stated that many Long Islanders were watching the story closely as property taxes reach an all-time high. Long Island has some of the highest property taxes in the United States, as well as some of the highest paid executives in education.
