Last Chance to Sign Up for Paid School Bus in 2012-13

Monday, March 26, is the deadline for parents to sign up children for a spot on the school bus next year if they live closer to the school they attend than the state-mandated two miles for grades K-8 or 2.5 miles from

The cost of the "subscription busing" for the 2012-13 school year will remain at $690, the same as this year, said School Business Administrator Nick Markarian. Cost is for each student. Sign-up information is online.

According to information from the, parents must sign up for the paid school bus program no later than next Monday, March 26, to guarantee a seat on the bus next year. The only exception to the deadline with be made for new families moving into the area or for an emergency situation, which should be reported to the school business adminstrator, according to the school website.

Under to state law, the Bernards Township Board of Education must provide free bus transportation to all students whose home is greater than two miles from school for grades K to 8 and more than 2.5 miles for grades 9-12.

Mileage is determined by taking the "shortest route along public roadways or public walkways from the entrance of the student's residence nearest such
public roadway or public walkway to the nearest public entrance of the school that the student attends," according to the Board of Education's information.

With controversy over the dropoff location for students taking the bus to Ridge High School — moved as of Feb. 1 to a back entrace reached through the — parents have said at previous school board meetings that fewer high school students may be signed up for the paid bus program next year.

Markarian said this week that it is too early to know whether signups are different from previous years, "but I would guess they won't change much."

Sarah Bonnefoi, co-president of the Ridge Parent-Teacher Organization said that while she also had heard discussion that parents would not sign up their students for paid busing next year. However, she said she can't say how many actually will decide whether to pay for the bus. She said she herself already has signed up her high school student for next year.

Subscription bus forms are online. The students can be registered online, or the forms downloaded and submitted to be received by no later than next Monday at the Board of Education office at 101 Peachtree Road in Basking Ridge.