The LSTA is still at work getting more students on buses, and will continue to work on this for as long as it takes.
· As previously reported on The Lakewood Scoop, the LSTA has been able to bring Durham Buses back into Lakewood. Their initial 4 buses and 9 routes are already underway, and we look forward to them picking up more routes over time.
· In addition to Durham, there is another vendor that left Lakewood previously who will be returning in the coming days.
· The short and long term answer to our busing issues are the need for more vendors and drivers in town and these two vendors returning will help the overall shortage.
· The LSTA is in the midst of receiving access and training to the Verstrans mapping system and that should be completed by Mid-December. Once that is completed, we will be able to process your change requests quickly.
· For those eligible for aid-in-liu payments, we will begin processing forms and payments as soon as the LSTA has access to the Versatrans mapping system, which as noted above is expected before the end of the calendar year.
· As we continue working on this years busing situation we also have to have an eye on the future. The required forms necessary for each child to get bussing for school year 2017-18 were sent to each school this week. It’s essential that we begin this process early in order for us to bid early and have access to the most possible busses. Please follow your school’s directives on these forms so that we can bid well before the end of the school year.
· As outlined above, we are in the midst of recruiting past vendors and cultivating relationships with new vendors. To that end, after carful consideration and discussions between the LSTA, Iggud, vendors and others, it was decided to forgo busing for Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) for both AM & PM routes. In past years, morning routes were generally on regular schedules with afternoon routes cancelled. This gesture and show of the respect will be helpful in our efforts to bring more vendors back into town and assist in continuing getting more children onto busses.
For any questions, concerns or suggestions or for a quicker response please email us at [email protected]
I still do not have busing for my kids and even with the aid in lieu I will have lost a lot of money. My mandatory busing was taken away and given to courtesy and whoever decided this caused me a big loss of money. Just letting you know…. Whoever is responsible for this should maybe start thinking about a plan to have those who got courtesy busing pay those of us who lost mandatory busing the money we lost so they can get busing. I’m not saying its those with courtesy busing’s fault, I’m just saying they got a cheap price for transportation while mandatory had to pay a high price, and those who decided that should come up with a plan to compensate those that had to pay for something they should’ve gotten for free. It’s not a simple thing to overlook….
I find it unbelievable that government funds set aside for mandated busing have been used for over 9000 non-eligible children over 1000 children that are supposed to have mandated busing don’t have it. Sure there is a shortage of buses but there are 100 bus loads of children that shouldn’t be on those buses.
I dont have bussing either, I happen to be just under 2 miles away from my kids schools. I pay so much propery tax why shouldnt I be just as eligible as everyone else for bussing. And mind you, if I ever do get bus I will have to pay for it for 3 kids which is on top of the taxes I pay. I may live closer to my kids school then some mandated pple. But the traffic situation is worse then if I had to travel 6 miles with no traffic.
I agree with the first comment 100%. I also still do not have my mandated bussing for either of my schools. The aid in leui money doesn’t cover half of what it cost me to drive and pick them up 4 miles each way every day with 2 babies in the freezing cold. My pickups alone take over an hour every day. It’s not acceptable ! They should have to have gotten permission from the mandated parents before providing our bussing to curtosey routes. Someone needs to be held accountable for this !!
where do i get/ send an aid in lieu of form?
i think i have come to the realization that I may not get busing afer all.
Agreed. No funds should have been used for courtesy busing before all mandated busing was taken care of.
My child is supposed to have mandated bussing. His stop is a half mile from my house. So a child that lives half mile from the school gets busing to the school,while we need to carpool a half a mile to the bus stop. Ridiculous.
We have to start “NOW” for next year not wake up 2 minutes before school starts!! Every single year there’s always a problem maybe if we start now everyone will have busing
Basically you guys had better figure out how to get our kids bussing they deserve. Sorry for the harsh language but we are turning our families lives upside down to do carpool when we are deserving of bussing. Figure it out and do it ASAP. Thank you in advance
Anybody want to join me in a law suite?
Lawsuit?
Sorry spell check got that one.
To comment 1 and others mandatory busing means one thing only you get funding which goes towards free busing I understand it would’ve worked out better for you if non mandated students did not get busing as there would be buses for you but that is not what you are guaranteed by mandated busing nobody stole your buses think about it all you were getting was someone to pay for your busing that’s it. You’ll be getting your money back cause there’s no bus for you.
My tax money paid for courtesy busing and the 50 or so buses bought that are parked at the public school labeled board of ed. Its the second year I dont have busing, frankly the minimal remuneration is not going to cut it for the loss of work. Any parent have suggestions about writing a petition? We need accountability.
Yes. Me. How?
Lakewood is a mess. We need to drain the swamp big time.
The chutzpah is we live close to 6 miles from The school and we still don’t have bussing and no aid in lieu because they claim we have a bus stop some where around 3 miles from our house. I have nothing more nice to say.
To by the nerve. I’d prefer My taxes pay for two children who are only 3 miles from the school. remember this is not your money, this is public funds! You should be less entitled to tax money if you live further away. It’s Less mileage for the dollar.