LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Private-school parents across Lakewood are preparing for another year of Thanksgiving disruption after the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority announced that no busing will operate on Thursday, even though many yeshivos and girls’ schools will hold a regular day of classes.
The shutdown affects thousands of families who rely on the township’s subsidized private-school transportation network, and many today, are not happy that there will be no service on Thanksgiving.
As word spread through schools and parent groups, administrators rushed to secure private vendors willing to run buses at holiday rates, while others warned families to expect traffic gridlock during drop-off and dismissal.
Contract dispute reignites community frustration
The Thanksgiving stoppage mirrors last year’s holiday breakdown, when heavy congestion formed outside multiple schools as parents arrived at the same time to pick up students. Families say this year’s announcement again leaves them with little time to make alternate plans, according to a report by Lakewood Alerts.
The contract language requiring full service on school days has become a focal point for parents who argue that the LSTA cannot simply suspend operations because it is a national holiday. The LSTA has not publicly addressed the contract dispute but has historically cited staffing shortages on Thanksgiving.
Holiday sensitivities fuel online debate
The decision triggered a wave of online commentary, with residents divided sharply over expectations for holiday operations. Some commenters defended giving drivers the day off, while others argued the issue is strictly contractual, not cultural.
Several residents criticized the complaints as unreasonable given the long-standing lack of service on Thanksgiving, while others questioned why private schools do not close for the holiday.
The discussion also revived criticism from earlier in the year, when the LSTA’s mandatory online registration system drew strong objections from families who avoid digital platforms. That petition, which organizers say gathered tens of thousands of signatures, accused the agency of disregarding community needs.
Vendors and schools brace for transportation gap
School administrators said they expect Thursday’s travel conditions to resemble last year’s backups, especially around larger campuses. Some schools have urged parents to stagger arrival and dismissal times to avoid severe congestion.
The LSTA has not announced whether it will review its holiday policies or address concerns about contractual compliance raised by parents.
As Thanksgiving approaches, families are balancing school schedules with a transportation shortfall that appears poised to repeat an annual challenge for Lakewood’s private-school community.