A response to John’s articles and two possible solutions to the transportation dilemma: Universal Bussing or No Bussing!
The bussing issue cannot and will not be resolved through any process to differentiate eligibility based upon household income.
Although some equations based on income and children per household would make the process fairer, they are not equitable ways to establish policies or metrics. And I don’t know the level of comfort or willingness on the part of the caregiver to provide and update this information to their school Administration.
I don’t believe income should serve to stand as the sole factor in determining need or equity in our transportation dilemma. Inserting income to be an indicator of eligibility poses the haves versus the have-nots and does not address a need based upon safety or necessity.
The resolution lies in the criteria and the data which should be the sole purpose of any policy relating to transportation.
The criteria should be objective, with clearly defined measures to determine what is considered hazardous.
The solution is universal bussing or no bussing at all – outside of what is mandated by the state.
I do agree with John in that the end goal for everyone should not be ‘how to provide equitable bussing’ but to resolve the issue of so many roads being hazardous. This more long-term solution will require working in collaboration with the township but will ultimately benefit our community and, someday, alleviate the need to designate roads as hazardous.