Senator Weber Op-Ed: Senator & Assemblyman look to transfer school transportation responsibility to the state

In regard to the recent article published by LoHud/Westchester Journal News on February 19th, titled “East Ramapo monitors seek transportation cuts as banks refuse to lend money to district,” we find it necessary to provide an additional and more accurate perspective on the situation as the sponsors of legislation aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by the East Ramapo School District.

Rather than fostering a constructive dialogue, we contend that the article prioritized blame over collaborative problem-solving, which is what is needed to address this situation.

It is crucial to acknowledge the distinctive nature of the East Ramapo School District. With approximately 33,000 private and 11,000 public school students, it is a demographic unparalleled in any other district across the state. This uniqueness requires tailored solutions rather than generic approaches to ensure the well-being of all students.

While it is true that budget votes in East Ramapo have faced challenges, it is counterproductive to castigate the voters. The voters may not want higher taxes. Does anyone? The voters may feel they are not getting the services for which they are eligible. Our offices hear this from struggling parents frequently.

Lecturing the voters has proven ineffective, and doing so only prolongs the issue indefinitely. We must shift our focus towards collaborative problem-solving to benefit the 11,000 public school students in the district.

The explosive cost of transportation is swamping the budget and negatively impacting the educational experience of public-school students. Despite this, we firmly disagree with the proposal to cut busing! In our opinion, and the opinions of many, that will only worsen the situation and result in more failed budgets.

Past state interventions have not fixed the problem, so why not try something different? With that in mind, we advocate for a more proactive and equitable solution. Recognizing the transportation law imposed by New York State requiring transportation for both public and private schools, we have introduced legislation in both legislative chambers (Senate Bill S4510A and Assembly Bill A4020A). This legislation aims to transfer the responsibility for transportation costs from the district to the state.

We urge members from both parties to support and sign onto this legislation and encourage the New York State Education Department and the Board of Regents to lend their support. By doing so, we can collectively address the hurdles the East Ramapo School District faces and work towards a positive resolution that will fix the problem.

Senator Bill Weber, State Senate District 38
Assemblyman Karl Brabenec, Minority Whip, State Assembly District 98