Board Scales Down Busing in Peekskill Schools Proposition
The Peekskill Board of Education voted last week to scale down a transportation proposition to only include busing next year for students in kindergarten through fifth grade in public and private schools.
Previously, district officials were considering asking voters on May 19 to approve a proposition that would have provided busing for all students, including in the middle school and high school, who currently have to walk or be driven to school.
If approved, the $1.765 million referendum would cover busing for 1,123 elementary public school students and 192 private school students who live within 15 miles of the school they attend. Not covered would be private high school students who have received busing from the district for the last 20 years.
If the proposition fails, no bus transportation would be available for any students in public or private schools, and elementary schools in the district may be redistricted.
In March, district officials held a quickly organized informational meeting to inform parents and guardians that current district transportation practices, including propositions and resolutions that authorized them, were not in full compliance with state Education Law.
Interim Superintendent of Schools Lorenzo Licopoli explained he and other officials learned only recently that a transportation proposition needed to be approved by voters for students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Peekskill schools and nine private schools, such as JFK High School, the Harvey School, St. Columbanus and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, to be taken to school on buses.
“We’re trying to right it and we’ll hear from the community,” Licopoli said. “Previous boards didn’t get the soundest legal advice, to be frank.”
With busing included, the proposed budget for next school year currently stands at $83.65million, and includes a tax increase of 2.62%. Without busing, taxes would decrease 2%. Busing for field trips, athletic events and special education students would still be provided if the transportation proposition is defeated.
Peekskill received $2.5 million more in state aid than it had anticipated. The additional funding will allow the district to offer new programs and services and add 27 new positions, including six part-time teacher aides, four reading teacher specialists, one bilingual secretary and a dance teacher for the middle school and high school.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
