JACKSON – Parents once again brought up their concerns about various transportation problems within the school district during a recent township Board of Education meeting.
Chavie Heller was the first of several parents who addressed the issue of transportation of students who attend schools outside of the school district.
“I found out late in the year that I would not have (district) transportation for both my boys and girls’ schools. I scrambled at the last minute and after many hours and phone calls and a bunch of dead ends, I finally found a driver who was available to do the morning and afternoon run but as I had two schools to figure out, I had to choose one for him to drive for. Thankfully he was able to do both schools in the afternoon,” she said.
“Unfortunately, for my girls’ school I still had not found a driver for the morning so every morning my neighbors and I take a turn. Obviously, it is a big stress and a big hassle,” Heller said. She is among a number of parents who receive transportation in lieu payments as the school district is not able to accommodate the demand for outside school district transportation for those who send their children for private education.
Heller added that “thousands of kids are being sent to school and back every single day. We must come up with a realistic plan of action. We need to put this behind us and come up with a revamped transportation system.”
“There is a problem related to transportation for non-public school children. I understand there is a solution out there that is supported by myself and others. The solution is to lease with someone for the non-public school students. A real solution is to outsource this problem,” parent Debbie Jaroslawicz said.
She added that with an increase of students who are attending schools outside the school district, “it has become apparent that the Jackson Transportation Office is not equipped to handle this. It is too much for them. It is a numbers game and it is just not working. The proof of this is the complete lack of communication between the communication office and the non-public school parents.”
She said there was a firm willing to pick up the routes for these students for the same amount as the in lieu of transportation payments that parents were receiving now. “It wouldn’t cost Jackson any more than what Jackson is already shelling out.”
Suri Robinson stood beside her daughters Ahuva and Ilana Robinson, who called for action by the Board in reference to the transportation problems. Both children attend a private religious school in Lakewood.
Resident Sara Freund added, “I moved here two years ago from upstate New York. I moved to Jackson because I felt my children, who I always put first, would do better in the Lakewood schools which meet the religious standards that our family chooses to follow. “I spent hours on the phone and spoke with 21 drivers to bring my children to school on time. It is scary but we are desperate.”
Freund said, “luckily we were able to find a reliable individual to do that. I trust that you will keep in mind that we have to look out for each other and to be kind to one another and I am asking you to allow us to help you to help all of us.”
Chava Lowy said she was notified after the school year started that unlike last year, she could not receive bussing from the Jackson school district. She told the Board she had to cut her work hours as a result. “I am driving my daughter twice a day, 20 minutes here and back.”
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli responded to a question about whether parents were allowed to be on the Board’s transportation
committee saying it was a Board committee and that they would be meeting relatively soon. “There are Board members on that committee and they will be reporting back out to the public.”
She told parents that “we are looking to improve communications. We understand and hear you in regards to being able to transport your children with the in lieu of payments. It was a difficult year last year, and we are looking to improve and strengthen our system. There is a plan to move forward and be more transparent with that and do better.
“We have our challenges and we have a driver shortage as well,” Pormilli said.
Districts throughout the state reported a driver shortage even before COVID-19. Now, the pandemic has made it even more difficult.
Board member Scott Sargent, who volunteered to serve on the Board’s transportation committee this year, said “There are so many things in transportation that needs to change.”
Sargent called the idea of outsourcing to a private firm a potential “viable option for the private school children not just for the community at large that was here tonight but other communities as well.”
“We appreciate your coming forward,” Board member Allison Barocas told parents. “We are taking the information that you provided us and by working together we can find a solution that makes sense for everyone.”
“Your comments did not fall on deaf ears. Your passion was felt,” Board member Giuseppe Palmieri added.
