As resident taxpayers and concerned parents of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck community, we are greatly disturbed by the proposal put forth at a March 5th School Board subcommittee meeting to eliminate District-provided bus transportation for students of all ages attending private and parochial schools. We believe the proposal is a clear violation of New York State Education Law, placing the safety of our children at risk and putting an unreasonable burden on taxpaying parents. Furthermore, we believe the cost-saving analysis of the Citizens Financial Advisory Committee’s (CFAC) Transportation Subcommittee is biased and deeply flawed, that the committee lacks legitimacy because it includes no representatives from the non-public school community who would bear the brunt of its recommendations, and because the data that was used to reach these recommendations has not even been made public. New York State law requires that districts provide transportation to children attending public, private, or parochial schools with transportation that is "reasonable and adequate." The combination of walking and public transportation alternatives that the CFAC proposes, with total commute times of up to two hours each way in addition to walking for up to two miles by children as young as six is neither reasonable nor adequate. In light of the School Board's legal obligations to the parents who live in this District and pay taxes but choose to send their children to private or parochial schools, and in light of the Board's legal and ethical obligations to provide safe and reasonable transportation for their children, we request and demand that you reject the CFAC Transportation Subcommittee findings and recommendations and continue to provide safe bus transportation to and from school to all children residing in this District.

Links