Smithtown school district cuts bus service

When Erica and Christopher Romeo of St. James enter eighth grade in September, the twin siblings will do something they've never done before: Walk to school.

As a result of a proposition passed last month by Smithtown Central School District voters, dozens if not hundreds of students at public and private schools will lose bus service for the 2011-12 school year.

For Erica and Christopher, who are 13, that means walking almost 3 miles round-trip to and from private Saints Philip & James School in St. James. Last week, it took them 40 minutes to make a trial walk to the school from their Borrell Court home.

"We could get hit by a car," said Chris, as he walked on the shoulder of North Country Road, portions of which do not have sidewalks. Trucks rumbled through busy intersections as he and his sister waited to cross the street.

"I was actually worried even walking today because of all the intersections," said Erica.

Starting in September, minimum distances for bus service will increase -- to a half-mile for students in grades K-5 and 1.5 miles in grades 6-12. The resulting reduction in bus transportation has many parents, who say work schedules won't allow them to drive their children to and from school, scrambling to find alternative ways to get their children to school safely. Parents at some parochial schools have launched petition drives asking the school board for a revote.

Parents believe the proposition's language may have caused some people to unintentionally vote in favor of reducing bus service.

"Basically you had to vote 'yes' in order to vote 'no,' and you had to vote 'no' to vote 'yes,' " said Charles Calabrese, of St. James, whose two teenage children attend parochial schools.

Smithtown school officials said the bus proposition passed May 17 by more than 800 votes. School Superintendent Edward Ehmann said reducing buses will save the district about $800,000 -- enough to save the jobs of 10 teachers.

Ehmann said a revote is unlikely. "I think it's very difficult to quickly pass any resolution for another referendum, because the community has spoken," he said.

He said the district has been talking to county officials to arrange for additional crossing guards throughout the district. The district is planning to provide buses from a single pickup point to take students to St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington and St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip, Ehmann said.

Cathy Lynch, of Smithtown, is upset her daughter, Sarah, 13, will not be able to take a bus next fall when she enters ninth grade at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset. Lynch said her daughter may have to carpool to the school -- or take the train. But she has not considered transferring Sarah to a school closer to home.

"Not at this point," Cathy Lynch said. "We'll try the first year and see how it goes."

Change in Smithtown school district bus transportation policy as approved by voters:

Current: Bus transportation for all students in grades K-5, and for students in grades 6-12 who live at least a mile from the school.

2011-12: Buses for students in grades K-5 who live at least a half-mile from school, and for students in grades 6 to 12 at least 1.5 miles from school.

Private and parochial school students: The maximum number of miles the district will provide a bus will decrease from 20 to 15 miles -- the minimum distance required by state law.