Board Delays Action on Bus Options

The Huntington Board of Education voted Monday night to defer action on school busing options.

Busing has been a frequent subject of discussion at board meetings, with some residents insisting on maintaining current service and others seeing an opportunity to trim the budget. Changes in service would need the approval of the public.

Because the busing contract is coming up for renewal, and because of a deadline for setting up a voter referendum for changes in service, the issue is back on the table now. Ultimately Monday, the board decided to look for further savings in how services are packaged rather than first reach for cuts. But the administration will report back to the board at its next meeting Feb. 11, which leaves enough time for a referendum to be added to the May 21 ballot.

The board could simply negotiate a new contract with no service changes or ask the public to decide what it wants through a referendum. The district stands to save as much as $1.8 million by reducing service to state minimums, which it currently far exceeds. For example, while the state requires busing for kindergarten-third grade for those 2 miles or farther from schools,  the district provides busing for all students at those grade levels regardless of distance.

Superintendent James W. Polansky presented two analyses of savings realized if service is reduced, one limited to cutbacks for all pupils, the other for older students.

"Not to editorialize, but we have to keep in mind safety and attendance," Polansky said. "Is this something we want to do, are we interested in a year we may not have to?"

The presentation led to a discussion of whether transportation savings could translate into restoration of other previously cut programs, return the savings to the budget to keep school taxes down and the public reaction to reduced transportation.

"I feel we need full-day kindergarten back," trustee Jennifer Hebert said. "I value this more than bus rides. If we need to save money, this is a place to do it."

Each member of the board weighed in.

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Vice president John Paci said, "What about a zero increase?," suggesting the savings could control budget increases and ease taxpayer complaints.

Richard McGrath commented on parental response to possible cutbacks out of concern for children's safety, while others were cited worry about the impact on attendance for students who couldn't get to their schools. Other raised the possible need to increase crossing guards if busing is reduced and who would pay for that.