Report: Mahwah Schools Consider Paid Busing

The Mahwah Board of Education is planning to hear a proposal next month for a trial run of a subscription bus service in which parents would pay to have their kids bused to school, according to a NorthJersey.com report.

The paid service would be offered on a trial basis to residents in West Mahwah with Ramapo Ridge students who live just short of two miles away from the school, the report said. State law requires the district to bus students living two miles away, or further.

At previous Board of Education meetings, West Mahwah parents have complained about the routes their children are supposed to walk to school, which include steps like crossing Route 202 and walking down Island Road.

Since all elementary school students receive courtesy busing, parents in the area of Catherine Avenue and State Street said they were disappointed when their kids lost eligibility to ride the bus when they got to the Ridge.

According to the report, board members debated offering the service as a trial, and offering it only to residents in one area of the township.

No information is yet available about what the paid bus service would cost, the report said.

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