Bus Stop Policy Debated

HOWELL – Is an elementary student too young to be dropped off at the bus stop without a guardian present?

Members of the Howell Township Board of Education recently discussed whether the current Pupil Dismissal at Bus Stop Policy should be changed for the 2024-25 school year.

The current policy states that during afternoon bus drop off, “all pupils in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 must be met at the bus by a responsible person that has received authorization from the pupil’s parent/guardian to assume responsibility for that pupil upon leaving the bus.”

However, the policy further states that the parent or guardian of a student who is in grades 3 through 5 may opt out of this requirement. While not mandatory, a parent or guardian for a student grade 6 through 8 may opt-in for this requirement.

In addition, any person provided authorization from the parent or guardian in the student information system to meet a pupil at the bus stop must be an adult age 18 or older or a sibling residing in the household age 12 or older.

At a recent Board of Education meeting, members discussed whether the policy should be changed – lowering the opt-out age to all ages, not just students in grades 3 to 5.

Some board members vocalized that the policy does not need to be changed and should be adopted for the future school year.

“We have data saying more the 50% of 5th graders are opting out and are able to get off without a parent. I think changing it would be disruptive,” board member Ira Thor said.

Another board member stated that it should be up to the parent whether their student can get off the bus alone. One member noted that splitting the grades could cause a problematic situation for the bus drivers who would need to differentiate what students can and can’t get off the bus without a guardian present.

“Having the busses change back to K through 5, I feel that the opt-out option should be for all grades,” board member MaryRose Malley said.

Board President Cristy Mangano noted that she looked through the school’s data and spoke with Board Secretary Ronald Sanasac about the options.

“There’s never going to be a day where I say a K to 2 child should be by themselves,” Mangano said. “I actually don’t like the opt-out option at all, but I’m ok with leaving the policy as is and having the parents make that decision.”

Throughout the discussion, it was also brought up how other school districts have an opt-out for grades 3 to 5 and there hasn’t been an issue with bus drivers.

Sanasac said they will come up with a way for the bus drivers to know which students need a guardian, no matter which way the board leans on the policy.

An initial motion was held to alter the policy to include all grades with the option to opt-out. The board voted 4 in favor and 5 opposed, the motion failing.

A second motion was made to keep the same policy – only grades 3 to 5 having the out-out option. The board voted 7 in favor and 2 opposed, the motion passing.