Free Busing Cut For Students At South Jersey District; Township Demands New Plan

DEPTFORD, NJ — Some Deptford Township School District families will have to pay an annual fee if they want their students to ride the bus to school this year, the superintendent said.

Parents and township officials have criticized the plan, expressing concerns about student safety, increased traffic, the financial burden it puts on families — and the fact that this was announced four weeks before classes resume.

Superintendent Kevin Kanauss posted a letter explaining the district's decision on Friday, and announced an "annual bus subscription" at $365 per student for those who live within a certain distance from their school building.

This change will affect K-8 students who live within two miles of their school and secondary school students within two and a half miles of Deptford High School. The bus fee does not apply to students with special needs, students with a 504 plan, and students who are temporarily displaced and need transportation.

Even if families pay the $365 fee, students will get removed from the list if they miss the bus three times yet still show up to school on those dates, Kanauss said in his Friday announcement.

Mayor Paul Medany, the township council, and public safety officials demanded that the plan "be rescinded immediately" in their own letter, sent to school officials on Monday.

"Many of the paths that children would need to utilize are on very busy roads and lack sidewalks and crossing guards to ensure safety," the letter says.

And, almost 1,000 people have signed a parent's Change.org petition calling for every student to have free busing.

"The school bus fee creates unnecessary financial strain on families already struggling with other costs," said parent Jerome Pitt, who has students at two different schools. "Let us ensure every student, regardless of their family's income, has equal access to education by eliminating school bus fees."

District officials will deliver a public presentation about the new busing plan at the next Board of Education meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at the Deptford Middle School cafeteria.

Kanauss said the district is also consolidating bus stops and updating bus schedules, to make transportation services more efficient and sustainable — but also meaning longer walks for some students.

As Patch has reported previously, there has been a critical shortage of school bus drivers for several years, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. That has driven up costs for districts, and caused headaches for parents and students as they contend with late buses and changing schedules.

The measure will save the district about $1.65 million annually and prevent Deptford Township Schools from having to contract outside drivers, Kanauss added. Transportation costs at Deptford Township Schools were expected to increase by 10 percent for the 2024-2025 school year, district officials said in their annual budget presentation. And public busing costs the district about $735 a year per student, Kanauss said.

"These savings will allow us to reallocate funds to other critical areas," Kanauss wrote.

“I have made a concerted effort to work with new leadership in the transportation department, the board of education and my colleagues in administration to be mindful of the taxpayers’ contributions and to make this right.”