Lakewood parents are once again preparing to hit the road themselves this Thursday, after the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority (LSTA) announced that there will be no busing on Thanksgiving Day—even though many yeshivos and girls’ schools will remain fully in session.
The decision leaves thousands of Lakewood families scrambling to arrange carpools and private transportation. It directly contradicts the LSTA’s own contract with the Lakewood Board of Education, which requires busing “on every day that school is in session, regardless of holidays.”
For a town where tens of thousands of private-school students rely on subsidized busing, an unplanned one-day shutdown creates immediate and expensive fallout. Administrators are now phoning private vendors to secure holiday-rate buses, and those without options are warning parents to brace for heavy traffic and chaotic pickups. Last year’s Thanksgiving confusion led to gridlock outside many schools as thousands of parents rushed to collect their children during dismissal without school transportation.
The timing comes just months after the LSTA faced a wave of backlash over mandatory online registration, a move that angered families who adhere to strict guidelines regarding technology. That petition, which organizers claim amassed 30,000 signatures, accused the agency of disregarding the sensitivities of the community it serves. The LSTA defended its system as efficient and offered offline kiosks to ease tensions, though it didn’t help much.
Well this an unfortunate situation but Thanksgiving is only one day. And his not the first time this has happened. I believe the bus drivers should be able to enjoy and honor their holiday. As do the families of the kids attending yeshivas during their holiday. Plus they have plenty of time to plan for this without any issues.
The issue is not with the drivers enjoying thanksgiving.
The issue is LSTAs breach of contract.
Just close the schools. Even though the private school kids don’t celebrate, let them have a day of rest. Simple!
Why?
Because public schools do it on they holidays thats why
Thanksgiving is an American Holiday. If you are an American you should honor the holiday.
This complaint is a waste of time to listen to. The drivers have had this day off for the chaga for years. Stop behaving as if you’re living in the days of the BHM”K where everything is perfect. You don’t. You’re living in galus america. And you should stop your “entitled” kvetching which will only bring about more eivah. Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l paskened that a doctor should be mechalel shabbos kodesh when there’s a cheshash eivah.
Unfortunately, the article writer lacks proper yiddishe perspective and needs a serious readjustment in his hashkafah and behavior while in this goldeneh medinah!
” tens of thousands of private-school students rely on subsidized busing” this begs the question, who is subsidizing that transportation . And 10s of thousands? Whew! Sounds like a fiscal Mt. St. Helen’s waiting to blow up.
Mr. Lakewood Alerts,
The article poster admitted at the end of his diatribe that his real and longstanding beef is with the LSTA. So let him just rant about that, instead of non-issues.
He should know that it’s already been decades that the regular contractors didn’t provide bus service on this day… way before the LSTA was even thought of being created.
We all know that until the final geulah we will have to endure many inconveniences – and this is one of them. That’s just a fact of life. You can try davening harder for Moshiach if you’d like. But until he comes, stop acting like the biryonim did. We’re dealing with more than enough sinas yisroel as it is.
Must be nice living in United States and not have to follow any of the customs here. Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday at all. If it wasn’t for those people that were here in America, Lakewood would not exist right now. But yet they can take a day off to celebrate Thanksgiving.
There’s absolutely no reason to have to bus private school kids on Thanksgiving! It’s an American holiday! It’s the reason you are living here/ celebrate it! Close the private schools for the day n stay home n reflect on the good life you have here! It’s not a religious holiday so for once join all Americans and celebrate!
Yep as many have said it’s an American holiday, love it or leave it.
If you choose for your child(ren) to go to private school you should be thankful the school system drives them almost everyday. In other areas of the US, you choose private school you drive your child(ren) everyday., regardless. Stop your complaining and figure it out for the few days a year.