JACKSON, NJ – The Jackson Township school board, an independent entity from the township’s municipal government, has announced it will be offering after-school late bussing in 2024, but it will cost you.
The radical plan will resume after school bussing, but only children of wealth will have to pay. Anyone who qualifies for a reduced or free lunch program will be allowed to ride for free, which raises questions about the ethical nature of this new program.
The Jackson School District in New Jersey is reintroducing its late bus service for middle and high school students for the 2024-2025 school year, but with a new twist: families will now have to pay a subscription fee. The late bus was previously cut due to budget constraints but is being offered again as the district tries to balance the needs of its growing community with declining state revenue.
For middle school students, the cost for the fall, winter, and spring seasons is $55, while high school students will pay $95. However, families won’t pay more than $285, regardless of how many children they have in the district.
There’s good news for families who are struggling financially—students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs are exempt from these fees. The service is only available on days when a late bus isn’t regularly provided, and the district is hoping this system will help keep services running without putting too much strain on its limited budget.
According to Dan Baginski, the district’s business administrator, the decision to bring back the late bus—though with a subscription fee—is part of the district’s strategy to meet the needs of its students while coping with reduced state funding. This move underscores the ongoing challenges many school districts face as they try to balance student services with tighter budgets.
