School Bus Stops Being Reviewed, With Some Changes

In an effort to maximize efficiency and safety of transportation routes, an unusually high number of changes have been made to bus stops for Warren Township schools' students, and parents are being asked to report stops deemed as unsafe.

This year, the school district — which opened township schools on Monday — has both a new transportation coordinator and a new transportation software program, said Schools Superintendent Tami Crader.

The transportation coordinator "has been working day and night to finalize routes and stops," Crader said in an email on Tuesday. "We are hoping to have this resolved by beginning of next week."

As mentioned in an email blast to parents last week, Crader said the district look at these routes every year because enrollment shifts.

"We may have to make changes depending on who goes from elementary to middle, new students who move into elementary, and who has graduated to high school," Crader said on Tuesday. "It is more than just numbers; it has to do with the safest, quickest way to transport almost 2000 students." 

The new transportation software program is very user friendly and does a great job maximizing efficiency, Crader said. However, she added, the bus stop assignments in many cases were new to parents.

Parents were asked in an email blast to bring to school officials' attention any bus stop changes they perceive as unsafe, the superintendent said.

She said parents with concerns about safety issues should call the transportation office at 908-753-5300, ext. 6, or email Mrs. Donlay, Transportation Coordinator, at jdonlay@warrentboe.org, Business Administrator Pat Leonardt at pleonhardt@warrentboe.org, or contact the superintendent at tcrader@warrentboe.org.

"Our transportation department is making every effort to address any safety concerns," Crader said. The new coordinator may not have been aware of every change, and is trying to get to the bottom of them, she said.

At this time, the school district is asking that report only safety concerns at this time. "Once we finalize routes and stops, we can discuss any other concerns," Crader saie.

The email blast included an apology for any confusion, and asked parents for "continued patience."