One-mile bussing eligibility

Along with the school budget vote in May will be an addendum to increase the busing eligibility distance to one mile for the Warwick Valley School District.

In announcing that both schools were equal, Dr. Bryant stated that the $30,000 transportation cost difference was negated by this addendum passing.

While I personally encourage parents and residents to pass the budget itself, I ask them to look at how this one-mile addendum will affect certain student populations. There are families of Park Ave students that live within that one-mile radius who do not own a car. Those parents will have to take a 5 to 9 year old, and many times younger siblings, out in the cold, snow and rain to walk to school.

Let them go alone, you say. Well, with no crossing guards, I would say many people would agree they would not allow that for their children.

It is wonderful that the district was awarded a Safe Routes to School grant which will allow for more sidewalks. When this is completed, fifth grade students will be walking down West Street in the dark, before sunrise (sunrise in January is about 7:25 a.m.).

I know West Street has a 30 mph speed limit, but from my experience, it is many times not adhered to. If you have driven down West Street on any given spring afternoon, you will see throngs of kids walking to town, quite different than fifth graders walking at dawn to school. There are many Middle School parents whom have younger siblings at home. To pack them up in the car, drop off a Middle Schooler and get home to catch an elementary bus, would be a hardship for many.

As a homeowner in Bellvale, neither of these situations would directly affect my family. I just ask that each voter take into consideration the families of those it will affect in casting their vote for the increase in the walking distance to our schools.

Karen Tuscano
Warwick
Editor’s note: Karen Tuscano is board member of Sanfordville PTA. This is written as a personal point of view.