If you live in Lakewood, Jackson, or Toms River, chances are you’re scratching your head today over the latest display of bureaucratic absurdity. The public school districts in all three towns are closed, yet Lakewood’s private school students still have busing, while those in Jackson and Toms River do not. Why? Because officials in Jackson and Toms River refuse to allow it.
Here’s the deal: When Jackson and Toms River contracted with the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority (LSTA) to provide busing for non-mandated students, they inserted a nonsensical clause. That clause states that if their public school districts are closed, any buses paid for with their district’s funds—including LSTA buses—are prohibited from running. Read that again. They are forbidding buses from operating simply because their schools happen to be closed that day.
Meanwhile, in Lakewood, officials don’t care about this meaningless restriction. If private schools are open and busing is needed, then the buses run. That’s how it should be.
Yet, in Jackson and Toms River, parents are left without busing on days like today, all because of an arbitrary rule that serves absolutely no purpose. These buses have nothing to do with the public school districts. They are operated through the LSTA, a separate entity, specifically for private school students. And yet,thousands of students are left stranded.
Does it make sense? Not in the slightest. Can it be changed? Absolutely—but only if residents demand action. Jackson and Toms River officials must be held accountable for this illogical policy and pressured to remove it. Parents who are tired of the unnecessary disruptions to their children’s education should contact their local officials and demand that this rule be eliminated.
It’s time for common sense to prevail over senseless bureaucracy. Contact Jackson Superintendent Nicole Pormilli at NPormilli@JacksonSD.org and Toms River Superintendent Mike Citta at mcitta@trschools.com
Signed,
G.S.
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lakewood Alerts. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
If this is the case how are the LSTA buses allowed to run on public school mid-winter break?
I don’t remember any buses getting canceled on public school mid-winter break.
The tone of this letter is off. Remember that you are in gollus and don’t demand so much, even if it doesn’t make sense..
You buried the lead.
The real point is in the 3rd paragraph. In Lakewood, officials don’t care.
The only Solution is to FIX THE FORMULA