The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to AskTheMayor@thelakewoodscoop.com.
Question:
My children have had the same stop for their entire school careers now in my daughters last year of school they are going to make her walk in the dark mind you more than 3 blocks to a stop! Meanwhile numerous other children get picked up at the stop she has had her entire school career! This unacceptable. I understand our busing situation but making the public school children second class is ridiculous! Then to top it off the personnel in the transportation office are very rude and uncaring would you want your daughter walking far to a stop in the dark my wife and both work and are unable to drive her to this stop. Their safety is first and foremost! Please help
Response from Mayor Coles:
The township has no control over the bus stops, but I am happy to make a call to see of there is anything they can do. Please privately email me your address & the bus stop. I know exactly what you are going through. My eldest daughter had to walk almost a mile to her high school stop & I know how difficult it was for my wife & I to drive her every day.
Ray
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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to AskTheMayor@thelakewoodscoop.com
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The public school district should provide parents the criteria used to establish routes and stops. The LSTA director designed both public and private school routes and stops so they should be the same and no one is being treated as second class citizens. Remember based on an independent consultant’s report, there were many cost saving measures implemented and parental and student convenience was surely affected and significant changes from last year should be expected. However, the Mayor/Twp do definitely have a say pursuant to an agreement with the district to pay for courtesy busing.