By LARRY MAIER
The vote at the Wednesday, Nov. 9 school board meeting was not unanimous. Board members Charles Reinhardt and Norbert Billig voted against the policy amendment, which passed the board 6-2.
The suggested changes were based on the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Thomas Caramore. The school board has weighed busing-limit reductions since last May, as a number of district residents who live south of Sunrise Highway say it is unsafe for their middle-school-age children to cross Sunrise Highway on the way to and from school, even when a crossing guard is present.
Last spring, some of the parents had asked the school board to look into whether any areas south of Sunrise Highway qualified under state guidelines as Child Safety Zones, which would have allowed the district to bus students living in those areas without changing other transportation policies. At the board's Nov. 7 meeting, an engineer hired by the district reported that none of the areas qualified.
Also at the November meeting, the district reported that reducing the middle-school mileage limit to a half-mile would mean a $0.31 tax increase per $100 of a home's assessed value. For a home with an assessed value of $7,500, that would come to an additional $23.25 in school taxes per year.
Parents then asked the administration to do a similar study for the high schools. Caramore said he decided to make a recommendation to the board at last week's meeting to give the community time to put their own proposition on the ballot should the school board decide to do nothing.
Caramore said he was concerned about proposing a more drastic busing-limit change because of the costs involved and the economic outlook for the Bellmore-Merrick community and school district. Because of a lagging economy and the fiscal effects of Sept. 11, state education aid packages might be reduced this year as the state allocates more funds to "needier" districts, Caramore said.
Also, the district wants to fund new special-education and science-research programs and reduce guidance counselor workloads for next year. The combined costs of the initiatives would be about $700,000, Caramore said. On top of that, the district expects 200 new students on its rolls next year, and Nassau County taxes are expected to rise, he said.
Given these factors, too large a busing change, and too large a school-tax increase, "could jeopardize the passing of the school budget," Caramore said.
Caramore, however, said he decided to suggest a transportation change for the district, in part because two-thirds of county school districts have lesser mileage limits for busing.
Caramore said the 1.25-mile limit for the high schools would be relatively cost-free to taxpayers because space exists for the additional students on buses already in service in the district.
The school-tax cost per household for reducing the middle-school busing limit to one mile would be about $0.14 per $100 of assessed value, or $10.50 for a home assessed at $7,500. There would also be a $30,000- $35,000 loss in state transportation aid to the district.
Mixed reaction, but support
Caramore's recommendation was met with mixed reaction by the school board, even though it was eventually passed. Most of the discussion among board members concerned the middle-school proposal.
"Lowering [the middle school limit] down to one mile will leave too many children without busing," said trustee Michael Weinick, who favored the half-mile limit.
Board President Louis Kruh agreed with Weinick. "If we are going to make a change...all children should be bused across Sunrise Highway if their parents wish it," he said.
Both Kruh and Weinick sit on the Merrick School District Board. Their constituents would be most affected by a half-mile change, which would allow all students living south of Sunrise Highway to receive busing to the Merrick Avenue Middle School. A half-mile limit would not, however, do the same for students attending Grand Avenue Middle School.
Other board members spoke against the half-mile limit, primarily because of fears that it would never pass and might affect people's perception of the budget in general.
"To go to one-half mile is cost prohibitive," said Trustee James Rooney. "One-half mile preconceives defeat...it has no chance of passing."
Board Vice President Alyse Middendorf called the one-mile limit "a compromise and certainly not a solution," but agreed that it was a sound recommendation because of the economic factors that Caramore highlighted.
Billig said he would not support any motion because he believed any proposition would have a better chance of passing if brought by residents rather than the school board. Billig is a board member from the North Merrick School District where no students receive busing.
Reinhardt referred to the safety zone study as proof that the dangers of crossing Sunrise Highway are minimal. "I think what we have now is fine...we're talking about junior and senior high school students," Reinhardt said.
Late bus help
Many trustees also supported the one-mile limit because it would assist numerous children who stay after school and want to ride the late bus home. With the current 1.5-mile busing limit, the late bus drops off many Merrick Avenue Middle School students south of Merrick Road. Those who live south of Sunrise Highway but north of Merrick Road must then cross Merrick Road, with no crossing guard and often after dark, to get home.
The one-mile change would enable students to be dropped off north of Merrick Road. "It would make the late bus situation so much safer," said Sherry Skolnik, a trustee from Bellmore.
Residents respond
Mark Schwartz, a resident of Kirkwood Avenue whose daughter will attend Merrick Avenue Middle School next year, encouraged the board to reconsider their motion. Because the high-school change would be relatively cost free, Schwartz said the board should have been more aggressive with the middle-school change.
"For $23 a year per family, I think you would have overwhelming support from this community," Schwartz said.
Schwartz also said that Merrick residents might attempt to put a proposition of their own to reduce the mileage limit further on the May ballot.
Trustee Sherry Skolnick pleaded with residents not to consider such an option. "People will be confused and vote both down," she said.
