Voices must be heard on courtesy busing's place in budget

The Sayreville Board of Education is getting ready to finalize the budget that will be put to a public vote in April. Tough decisions, I am sure, will have to be made on what stays, what goes, and what can be shelved for the betterment of something else.

I say to all of you in the community that the safety of children should not be something that is compromised for something else in the budget line.

So far this year, we have gotten lucky that no one has been hurt due to the lack of courtesy busing for approximately 1,300 children in the district.

But with the impending winter months, we don't have to see an accident when looking at the effects of the lack of courtesy busing. The effects can be seen in the students' tardiness, lateness and sickness.

I implore all who are or might be affected without busing to let your voices be heard before it is too late to make a difference.

There will be Board of Education meeting on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at Selover School. Parents need to turn out in a big way, otherwise the board will keep this out of the budget proposal altogether.

Jack Myatt

Sayreville