Courtesy Busing Changes

[Fran_Albury]

I personally attend almost EVERY BOE Meeting and a lot of Committee Meetings. I know the budget failed and we can argue it in so many ways why it failed and why some people feel that it should have been passed. I know the job of the Educational system is to Educate the Children. However those Children need to arrive Safely for them to be Educated. Yes State Law says on paper less than 2 miles than your child walks. I know personally the route my daughter will take and she is just right at the 2 mile mark is a very dangerous route. With Heavy Traffic on the roads and one road even having a blind curve in the road. Then to hear from parents in the development she would walk thru is know for Drugs & Gangs. Of course I will not let my 6 year old walk and will drive her because of this. However the decision to cut Bussing was done prior to the budget being presented so even if the budget passed this was still something that was being cut no matter what. The Safety of our Children was being taken away even before a budget was to be voted on. Then they cut Sport & After School Activities which makes for a well rounded child. Which I know for a fact a few of the BOE Members children took advantage of when they were in the District. A BOE Member had said the exercise these children will get will be good for them. Well so would the exercise they would have received from a sports program. I agree with Mr. Tanla that Vice Principals were cut the Administrators that have the most direct contact with the children. Maybe the BOE is not hearing what the Public is asking they are asking for cuts to be made at Central Administration where they least effect the children on a daily basis. Mr. Tanla is correct the Superintendent, 1 Asst. Superintendent and 1 Business Administrator are required by law. However we have 2 Asst. Superintendents so one could be cut legally. The decision to cut Bussing was not the right decision in my opinion. This is my opinion only and everyone else is free to have theirs as I am not about to argue this out with anyone else, and YES I support Education. I know that is some people thing if you don’t support their views or don’t vote they way they want you to vote right away you don’t support Education so let me get that out. I don’t support however the cuts that are being made from our Children and are taken out before the budget even goes to the voters. Give me something to Vote for and Yes I would support a budget and try and promote a Yes vote. 

Al, there is a much safer and shorter route your daughter can walk.  It goes thru my development and if you email or call me I'll be happy to describe it to you. 
***

I want to see some transparency and openness when the new contract is negotiated between the HTEA and the BOE. Every year the BOE comes around to pimp the budget and when questioned about the largest items on it, they whine "but we're contractually obligated to spend that..."  Well, then the time to make changes is when the contract is being negotiated.  If benefit costs are ten times (this is a made up number just to make a point) what they were 10 years ago, make sure the HTEA members know that.  Start looking at total compensation (wages, health insurance, pension, etc.)  For years, we (the public) have been told that the teachers deserve really generous benefits because they're underpaid.  If their pay rate is appropriate, it's time to revisit the benefit packages. 

Should our teachers be paid decently?  Yes.  Should they have benefits?  Yes.  The problem is that there isn't money to pay well and have wonderful benefits and do everything we'd like to in school.  The HTEA has to let its members know what their benefits are costing the children.  Maybe instead of Cadillac level benefits we could make sure they get ones more like a Honda or a Hyundai - still decent and get the job done, but more reasonably priced. 

[Al_Miller]

Fran
I will reach out to you to see if it is the same route a parent told me about thru some woods.  The same parent told me to never let my child walk thru it as it has gangs and drug dealers hanging out in it. If it is thru woods then I don't think that should count as any safe route for children and taking that route will depend on weather conditions. Hopefully you know another route not thru woods and safer then the one I know.

[John Gazire]

I guess now I will need to find time to attend the next BOE meeting so I can look into the faces of the people who are putting the safety of my little princess and the rest of the neighborhood kids in jeopardy to save a buck.

[James_Obrien]

I guess now I will need to find time to attend the next BOE meeting so I can look into the faces of the people who are putting the safety of my little princess and the rest of the neighborhood kids in jeopardy to save a buck.

Now you’re going to go to a meeting??? Where have you been for the last fifteen years when this subject came up for a cut. The Board found a way to save this Courtesy ever year, at the expense of something else. Well this year that could not happen. The Board did not make this decision lightly and I was at the meeting when it happened and looked into their eyes. Every time a cut is made you can see the pain it causes and the loss it means to the educational process.

[Thomas Jennings Jr.]

There is a lot of boloney goin on here...

Firstly, I understand that the courtesy busing was already not included in the budget before it was voted on.....but does voting it down bring it back? NO.

People like to whine and complain about how "the BOE should have done this, or coulda done that" yet when the BOE actually makes a decision on something to lessen costs it's "Oh my gosh! We cant live without that!". Then how do we expect to cut any costs? There are certain regulations and laws for governing a school body. For example, needing a superintendent, asst. superintendent, etc. There are MANY more. Hence why more personnel couldn't be cut.

It seems that Ms. Smith, someone many of us here supported with our votes for BOE, supports the cut of the courtesy busing (I may be wrong). I am interested in hearing more of her opinion.

If under state law, the district doesn't have to provide courtesy busing for students who live less than 2 miles away....you can't even sue the pants off of them if anything happens. They weren't breaking any laws. Basically, at that point it is the parent's duty to make sure their child gets to school safely. If it's your kid, and you don't feel comfortable with them walking, drive them.

It makes sense that they would only bus kindergardners in the mid-afternoon. Thats when parents, grandparents, and babysitters are at work - it is supposed to be more convenient for you to drop them in the morning and get them in the afternoon, rather than find someone to grab them around noon.

Courtesy busing is just that - a courtesy. They were being kind to provide a service that they didn't need to. Now they can take that money and put it back into the classrooms. Their hands were forced as far as I can see. As much as administration says "Don't vote down the budget, or this won't be around anymore" the public is equally to blame for saying "If this happens, im voting against the budget". Voting against the budget will not bring back your courtesy busing.

What I dont understand is why more schools weren't affected, is there not a development directly across from the greenville school? I may be mistaken...

The time to argue about this was months ago. It is unfortunately, too little too late.

I dont understand how someone who voted against the budget says they support education. Thats like saying I support Ron Paul and voting for McCain. You don't support him, you just talk out of both sides of your mouth. Your support is where your vote goes.

[William Field]

I continue to be amazed at the assumptions that the Howell school district has millions of dollars of wasted spending just waiting to be cut if only the right people (i.e. NOT the school board) would be allowed to look.

This screaming over courtesy busing has been going on for every one of the fifteen years I've lived in this town.  Parents have this idea that the world is a much more dangerous place than it was when we were kids.  But in fact, crime rates are DOWN.  Murder, kidnapping, injuries and deaths from car accidents are all DOWN. 

What's up is our ability to hear about all the times that something does go wrong and a child, somewhere, suffers because of it.

Would you be as upset if they cut all the language courses?  How about the art?  The music?  These are all "extras", but studies show that they ALL make for better learners, especially the music classes.

Jeanette Smith is right: the proper purpose of education is to educate. 

I'm still horrified by a meeting I attended at Taunton School 13 years ago when the school presented its goals for the year.  There were ten of them.  NOT ONE mentioned education as a goal.  NOT ONE.

I find that a much bigger problem that dropping courtesy busing when there are sidewalks.

[Thomas Jennings Jr.]

That is pretty disappointing Mr. Field as far the meeting you attended 13 yrs ago.  Have you attended any since then? Have they improved over the years?

I agree with your other point too - as if there's millions of dollars if the right person were to look.

It was COURTESY busing. Let's focus on education.

And as far as safety goes?

This is Howell.

It's not Trenton, Newark, or Camden. And it's not even Lakewood for that matter!

It's Howell. Most of the people in the neighborhoods are people who have kids that will be walking with yours. Tell them don't talk to strangers, hand them the cell phone you gave them anyway, and send them on their way.

[William Field]

Mr. Jennings,

I was closely involved as a parent in Taunton, LOP, and Middle School North for both my kids.  I served two years as a Finance Committee citizen volunteer.  I founded a music parent program for MSN and ran it for six years. 

I've been much less involved as my kids have grown.  They're now out of the system, but we continue to support the system and have fond memories of many of the teachers we met over the years.

You ask if things have improved in those years.  I can't speak for Taunton, since we last had a kid there in 1999 or so, but there appears to be a general fear for the students' safety that almost completely outweighs any focus on education.  If there's the slightest possibility that something might go wrong, the administrators get very gun shy (hmm, perhaps not the best choice of words) and will nix it.  Just to give one example, look at the playground equipment outside Taunton School.  When we arrived, it was mediocre for interesting gear.  Now it's worse than awful.  No excitement, nothing worth doing on it.

The 24 hour news cycle, and the ease with which we hear of a problem in Nevada, Michigan, South Jersey, or anywhere else on this planet has turned too many parents into neurotic worrywarts (myself included at times), limiting the risks their children are allowed to take and severely restricting their learning potential.  There's been an upside to this: there are many fewer injuries from fireworks and crazy kid stuff than there were when I was a kid, but a lot has been lost as well. 

[Al_Miller]

Would bussing have been in the budget if the budget passed no. Anyway we look at it bussing would have been and has been cut. I will drive my daughter because I think at her age 2 miles each way is a little too much. I attend enough meetings that if I had a huge problem with it I could have and would have spoke up. As far as supporting education I will have to agree to disagree a no vote doesn't always mean you don't support education fully nor does yes vote say you support it 100%. Funny how you think I voted against the budget. I never once told anyone how I voted on either one of the budgets. If you attended all of the Howell BOE Meetings you would have seen me stand up for the Teachers & Staff at Howell BOE Meetings. I am as a lot of parents tired of losing things prior to budgets bring presented. I supported Mrs. Smith and still do. She has her views and I don't expect her to always agree with mine but overall I thought she was one of the best for the job along with her ticket Residents for Change. I also served on my local schools PTA / PTO Executive Board for the past 5 years including this upcoming year working with the educators on a daliy basis. I also served on the Howell BOE Facilities & Community Relations Committees for the past few years and including this upcoming year. Pretty good for not supporting education. We all will not agree on everything and I still stand behind I support education but not everything Administration is doing and the cuts they are making.

[Jeanette_Smith]

First of all, Al . . . thank you! I have a great deal of respect for you both as a person and as someone that has selflessly volunteered countless hours to the children of this community.

Second, I just want to make sure that everyone understands that any post made here by me or any other elected representative is strictly as a private citizen. We cannot and do not speak/write in any official capacity outside a legally constituted meeting. Additionally, while all elected officials may have personal opinions, it is understood that when acting in an official capacity it is the elected representive's duty to represent the entire community not personal opinions. Finally, I hope that everyone understands that the role of a BOE in the state of NJ is to approve policy and take action, to its best judgement, based on what is best for the education of its students, in accordance with the law and within the financial ability of its community.

OK . . . now that I've hopefully clarified, I can give my personal opinion and it will be taken as just that. I think that 100% busing of students is wasteful. Do I agree with the 2 miles established by the legislature and signed into law by a governor? No.

[Gene_Tanala]

I agree with Jeanette 100 percent.............and also agree with her about Mr. Miller, who tirelessly volunters and attends all meetings, as does Jamie O'brien......................

As a newly elected BOE member, Jeanette is outstanding presently, and is a great watchdog for  the children and the taxpayers. as should every BOE member be.

Courtesy busing is a sesitive issue and seeing many residents getting involved is great..we need dialog, and most of all trust.

Gene Tanalqa

[Jeanette_Smith]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the school district does have a courtesy busing appeal process on the schools website at:

http://www.howell.k12.nj.us/news_main.aspx?id=865
(link for the form is at the bottom of the page)

[Al_Miller]

The BOE Safety Committee will be Meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 4pm in the Large Conference Room in the Board Office. On the agenda is a discussion in regards to the walking routes.


http://www.howell.k12.nj.us/files/events/3407/SAFETY%20MEETING%20NOTICE.pdf

[Rob_Nicastro]

The cut to courtesy busing by the BOE administration is another form of a ponzi scheme.
Here is my understanding, the administrations cuts $200,000.00 thousand dollars from their budget by eliminating courtesy busing. State law requires the municipality to provide crossing guards for the safety and welfare of the children. The Police Chief estimates the cost for crossing guards to be over $800,000.00 thousand.

Who is going to foot the bill? The taxpayers. The only solution is for the Council to reinstate the cost of the courtesy busing because it the cheaper way. So once again the administration passes the buck and didn't make the tuff cuts that wouldn't hurt the children and help the taxpayers pockets.

[Jack_Giannattasio]

Rob,

Could you tell us what the "tuff cuts that wouldn't hurt the children" are? Please be specific and remain cognizant of state and federal mandates.  Thank you