Officials Meet: No Busing Thursday & Friday – Roads To Be Reassessed Over The Weekend

Officials meet to discuss busing after storm picPHOTOS: Wednesday afternoon, members of the BOE took the initiative to see what can be done to get buses back on the roads tomorrow, to ease the parents’ frustrations. Instead of just having someone drive around town and decide if the roads were safe enough, a meeting was set up with officials to discuss it.

However, after a short 30 minute meeting at the DPW headquarters, it was the consensus of the officials that there would be no busing Thursday and Friday, and the roads would have to be reassessed before the buses would be allowed back on the roads.

The DPW offices will be closed from Friday-Monday for New Years.

The decision came after Police Chief Rob Lawson voiced his concern about the children’s safety – mainly due to the tall piles of snow at the street corners which he said poses an extreme danger to the children because of the lack of visibility by motorists. The Mayor, as well as the other officials in attendance agreed.

Another factor taken into consideration, was the fact that buses would have a difficult time maneuvering through the developments and other narrow roads still not cleared from the snow.

In attendance, was DPW Director Al Burdge, Police Chief Rob Lawson, the Mayor, members of the BOE, School administrators, Transportation dept officials and District administration officials. TLS. 

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65 COMMENTS

  1. An intelligent decision. The children would be at great risk. Visibility at the corners is terrible. There is just too much snow. Hopefully, by Monday we will have a lot of melting and it will be much safer.

  2. We all know about the safety issue, but the real reason is because the drivers want vacation the rest of the week just like the public schools have off till Mon.
    But what’s 2 days of carpooling anyways!
    I think we should start keeping track of what we are owed (i.e. snow removal, bussing… should = lower taxes right?)

  3. private schools should be closed this week just as well as public schools close for winter break. maybe its time that we consolidate our school calendar and get our busing issues back on track instead of the ours and theirs system we are now using. kids should be taught at an early age and segregation should be illegal. Its gonna be 2011 not 300AD.

  4. Bais Faiga is open- starting at 9:30, ending at 3:00.
    Bais Kaila is open- starting at 9:30, ending at 3:35.
    No transportation!!!!!!

  5. why cant each school have several safe pick up locations throught Lakewood . For Example Chemed parking lot, westgate – Kosher West, Pine Park and public shcool lot

  6. They usually have these massive tractors and massive dump trucks carting the snow away. This year, probably due to budget cuts, they didn’t do that. That’s why there is so much snow sitting around at the street corners and all over the place.

  7. Yeshiva kup …once ur in the car bring the kids to the “safe pickup locations” you can bring the kid to school already….who’s gonna watch the kids at these so called safe locations.

  8. Not accepting others under the guise of projecting segregation is a disgrace to all MLK stood for- and besides the drivers have off half of September — accept others if you want acceptance of yourself- Not to have bus service is okay- but dont demand we close our schools as you deem fit

  9. attention #8

    its called freedom of religion and we are leagaly allowed to keep our private school sopen when we feel like.

    and yes we pay taxes and that funds your childrens schools.

    and yes the bus drivers get paid by their companies this week had they been driving which would have helped the bus drivers and the economy.

  10. BOROPARK IS HAVING BUSSING TOMMORROW>

    IF HE TRUCKS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD WIDENING AND CLEARING THE ROADS THE PAST 2 DAYS AND NIGHTS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK ON OUR FEET.

  11. To TLS Editor,

    “Instead of having someone drive around town and decide if the roads were safe enough, a meeting was set up with officials to discuss it.”

    This logic is perfectly backwards. It may be more time consuming to drive around town, but for a meeting to be “instead” of driving around doesn’t make any sense at all.

  12. Someone raised a question about where to dump all the snow- I think the old baseball field on ninth street would be a great idea instead of a parking lot and ruining the entire neighborhood with cars cars and more cars all over the place not giving any respect to the people who live in this area.

  13. What about STARS? Since there is no bussing on Friday, does that mean they will be off on Friday too? Vacation is wonderful, but a full week includes many missed work hours…

  14. Why are the schools starting late tomorrow? can’t the kids just get back into routine and parents back to work on time? and why the early pickup? I simply do not see the logic in having early dismissal – obviously as long as dismissal is before dark.

  15. Just got word from the White House that Obama wants to hold a School Bus Summit (thats about the only summit he hasnt held yet) to see how Americans in the Northeast can have their children bused to school once again without compromising on the their safety.

  16. I love guys like 22 who make big statements like boro park has busing tomorrow. Boro park is paralyzed. I live there. Why don’t you come to boro park and switch houses with me so you can be housebound and I can get out. At least your mayor made sure you can get around

  17. Some girls schools start at 8:30 Not every parent can leave their ho,es at 8Am to drive their daughters to school . Many parents have little children at home who dont leave to schhol or playgroups till closer to 9am .

  18. To #2

    Unlike Mayor Langert, The Boe attorney has a contract with the boe and has every right to charge them for every hour he works, how about u tutor my kid for free? We can all bash and scream and sound like New Yorkers about our asknim but without some of them are town wouldn’t be the same let’s start be thankful.

  19. #5 as a bus driver in this town for many years I can tell you I WANT TO WORK BUT IT IS UNSAFE!!!!!! I’m not on vacation I’m stuck in my house just like everyone else, I’m NOT getting paid for sitting home, in fact I’M NOT GETTING PAID AT ALL! If YOU want to take the chance and carpool be my guest and quit bashing the DRIVER’S!

  20. #40 excuse me, I stand corrected, it’s just makes me angry when people who don’t sign my paycheck think I’m getting paid or would rather not drive and be on vacation.

  21. I laugh when I read many comments. I would suggest you drive arround surrounding towns to see how well Lakewood has done so far. The only reason your commenting is you have to be with your children a little while longer. If it’s so important drive your children to school. Stop using the system and do the right thing.
    Stop blaming the board attorney every chance you get. You might not like him for some reason but believe me he watches out for all the children in Lakewood. Just look at Schi, look at what he has done for the private and public schools. In stead of pointing fingers look in the mirror and ask yourself how much money would you save the Lakewood residents If I drove my child to school. Now tell me, who abuses the system.

  22. Highschools for 10 children using bussing. What a joke. Are your children babies, they should be walking or you should have bought them a car already. All highschools should have no bussing. This is a total waste of funds.

  23. you are full of it! why do you come here spewing your lies and taking in all the gullible people? ALL plows were down your streets not doing dormant parking lots. Stop trying to stir up trouble where none exists. Unless that’s all your about, making it up if the reality doesn’t fit your political agenda.

  24. THERE IS NO MITZVA FOR GIRLS TO HAVE SCHOOL BUT ITS MIZTVA FOR MEN TO LEARN EVERYDAY SO THERE FOR THERE SHOULDN’T BE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. BEC “””””””THIS PUTS AN EXTRA 1,500 CARS ON THE ROAD WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO GO LEARN””””””””””””NOW. IF THAT “MAYER” WOULD HAVE DONE A “GOOD” JOB PLOWIN THEN IT WOULNT HAVE TAKEN ME ONE HOuR TO YESHIVA TODAY ITS CRAZY OUT HERE THE DRIVING PLS NO GIRLS SCHOOL TOM iTS FRIDAY LET THE MEN GET A LITTLE LEARNING DON “””””””””ON TIME””””””””””PLEASE

  25. Why don’t you people try this approach?
    I am so grateful that I had heat and electricity during this blizzard.
    I am thankful that I did not run out of food.
    I am so grateful that my family is healthy.
    I am thankful that there are employees who spend their holiday weekend-the biggest of the year-working throughout the night to do whatever they could to clean our neighborhood.
    I am thankful our government officials made our safety a top priority and worked to the best of their ability to get the job done.
    I completely understand that there are a limited amount of snow plows and drivers and it will take time to get to everyone.
    I completely understand that there is no way around clearing the streets and not snowing in parked cars, driveways or mailboxes. And if this happens to me, I am grateful for my own two hands and a shovel.
    Thank you to all the private schools whose self sacrifice made it possible for our kids to maintain some semblance of a school schedule. I understand there will be a great measure of inconvenience to get them to and from school without busing. It is my choice if I want to send them to school or not, but I am grateful that I have that option.

    ……get the point?

  26. I am not sure if anyone understands the blizzard was an act oif G-D.
    He is telling everyone to stop abusing the system. When will you get it.
    Taxes continue to rise because of your abuse. How many more people have to suffer becasuse of this. I can only imagine if this was public school children we were talking about. How your tunes would change

  27. What can I say look what our town has come to will found every reason to complain, to those who complain about our DPW workers I personally want to salute you for doing a job well done while all your family’s were home on this holiday weekend. To our Mayor& Mier I would like to thank you for personally being on top of the situation from the time the storm hit until the last min and to a friend of mine Michael Inzelbuch I have seen the bashing that people have said about you but the people who know you well, know how much you do for our kids be it special ed or private schools whatever the price is its worth every penny.

  28. it was really out of control….i had only two drop-offs this morning
    before i left to work…i left my home around 9am to head out to Bais faiga/cheder…..it took over 50min…

    it was insane…Rt9 for the most part was only a one lane….
    i am leaving them home on friday…

  29. The bus companies are still going to get the full amount of money specified in their contract from the board of ed…so if they don’t pay the drivers it is just going in their pocket. It took me over an hour to take my girls to Tiferes today. On the bright side I am currently looking for job so I wasn’t late to work..

  30. Bravo to #51! This is the most sensible comment that I have read. I don’t understand why everyone is complaining! This was a blizzard – an act of God! Why would anyone want to send their children out to school under unsafe conditions? If you feel that strongly that your children need to be in school (or is it just out of the house) drive or walk them to school. As for the parent who can’t get their child out to school for 8 because of other children, we have all been inconvenienced at times. Personally, the safety of MY children has always been more important than missing a day of school. Also, many times I have read complaints about high taxes and the high cost of everything – have you ever thought how much running buses 6 days a week costs? Lakewood is the only district in NJ with this added expense. Perhaps if the parents drove or walked their child to school that 6th day taxes would be lower for everyone – particularly senior citizens who are on a fixed income.

  31. If the roads are unsafe….. then the PD or DPW should call the shots on who travels on the road. If there is no busing then SCHOOL IS CLOSED.
    These private schools have no regard for workers who have to accommodate there bad decisions. Car-pooling and walking is JUST UNSAFE… the kids could stay home an extra day here and there.

  32. There must be accountability for the decision to use trucks to clear the Blue Claws stadium instead of the streets in town. What events were held (and not canceled during the state of emergency?), that were more important than residents being able to get out? We must demand answers to this.

    Also, I heard that any private plow operator that clears a township street can be fined. I understand that the township is concerned about the cost of re-paving streets, and rightly so, but that does not excuse holding the entire town hostage! If every block could get together and pay a private operator to clear their street and parking spots, thus allowing traffic to pass, and, ahem, perhaps deduct the cost from their property taxes, perhaps that would be a way of protesting.

  33. #53. Errrrrrrr, I hate to bust your bubble, but there is no free busing on Sundays. Parents have to pay separately for Sunday busing for each child getting bused.

  34. 9TH STREET still had cars under the snow…that’s why some parts were not done….I guess no one had the back bone to start towing these cars.
    We are back to problem A….not enough parking… build a few parking high rise garages already….have a security guard watch them put people back to work…….

  35. The problem with Lakewood is that they don’t use anyone that has the proper education, training and knowledge to help them out in these types of disasters. The question that I keep hearing is why wasn’t our OEM activated, where were all of our high ranking officials, why weren’t they all sitting together in a big room trying to come up with an action plan.
    We recently saw pictures on this website (TLS) of these high ranking officials taking part in a table top drill for a fire at a big development. WOW hears an idea, maybe they should have a table top drill on a big snow storm just like the one that just crippled Lakewood and exhausted several if not all first responders. I know Lakewood has to have some educated, knowledgeable and well trained individuals who can help these officials out. This disaster needs to be reviewed and steps need to be taken so this doesn’t happen again!

  36. The State should dictate in an emergency such as this if any public or private schools should remain open or closed due to road conditions,missing a few days of school is not that big a deal

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