PUPIL TRANSPORTATION
| | |
Mrs. Aida Esquilin Pupil Transportation Coordinator | Ms. Nayda Gonzalez
Administrative Secretary |
The Office of Pupil Transportation provides transportation to eligible Passaic students pursuant
to New Jersey State Law (N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 et.seq., N.J.S.A. 18A:46-23 and appropriate
New Jersey Administrative Code).
A. Students Who are Transported
Pursuant to state law, only eligible special education students, handicapped students, and students attending specialized schools receive transportation to and from school. The district does have a medical transportation policy which is used when the need is certified by the school physician.
As of June 30, 2006, the district transported 1,280 students.
B. Remote from School
State Law (N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1) mandates transportation to be provided to:
• Elementary students who live more than two (2) miles from their public school.
• Seconday students who live more than 2.5 miles from their public school.
The city of Passaic is 3.2 square miles in area. No student in Passaic has to walk more than two (2) miles to their public school, therefore, the district does not provide transportation to any students other than those mandated by law.
C. Transportation Destinations
The district provided transportation to the following schools during the 2005-2006 school year:
Summer Program
| Students | Schools |
| 168 | 2 In-District Schools |
| 226 | 38 Out-of-District Schools |
| Students | Schools |
| 444 | 15 In-District Schools |
| 836 | 81 Out-of-District Schools |
D. Transportation Provided by Bus Companies
The Passaic Public School District does not own any school buses nor employs any bus drivers. All transportation for students is provided by private school bus transportation companies. The district enters into contract with the companies through the competitive bid and quatation process in full accordance with New Jersey Law.
E. Joint Transportation Routes
The Office of Pupil Transportation aggressively seeks joint transportation routes where Passaic and another school district shares buses and shares costs. Most of the joint routes are coordinated through the Passaic County Educational Services Commission.
F. Transportation Costs
The district enters into contracts with private transportation companies to provide transportation for students. The district uses the competitive bid process and awards the contract to the company who submits the lowest price for each route.
As of June 30, 2006 the district contracted for 271 routes at a cost of $5,906,759.57 (includes Passaic County Educational Services Commision and parent contract, does not include Charter Schools.
G. Office of Pupil Transportation Activities
The Office of Pupil Transportation coordinates all activities for the transporation of students. It is ably and efficiently managed by:
Mrs. Aida Esquilin, Pupil Transportation Coordinator
and
Ms. Nayda Gonzalez, Administrative Secretary
The office had produced three (3) manuals:
• Contractors Manual for Bus Companies
• Manual for Schools
• Manual for Parents
The manuals are designed so that everyone involved in the transportation process understands their rights and responsibilities.
Other school districts have requested copies of Passaic's manuals for their use.
H. Charter School Transportation
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-13 transportation must be provided to students attending a Charter School which is remote from the student's home. This allows the school district the option to provide transportation or make a payment in lieu of transportation to the parent, whichever is less costly.
As of June, 30 2006, the Passaic Board of Education makes an annual payment of $794.00 to parents whose children attend the Classical Academy in Clifton, New Jersey and the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology in Paterson, New Jersey. Payment was made for ten (10) children at a cost of $7,940.
I. Parent Transporting Child
In accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:27-9.9(e) students who are eligible for transportation may be transported in certain approved cases to school by their parent. The Office of Pupil Transportation would enter into a contract with the parent to provide transportation. In all cases, a great savings to the school district would be generated, thus warranting the contract.
As of June 30, 2006, the Passaic Board of Education contracted with three (3) parents to transport their children to school.
