Lindenhurst residents to vote on restoring school busing

Lindenhurst residents will vote Wednesday on whether to restore busing for about 2,000 students - services cut from the budget in an earlier referendum to save money.

If approved, the busing proposition will raise spending $621,000 and boost the average homeowner's annual tax bill by $55.12, district officials said. Voting is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the middle school and the Albany Avenue, William Rall, E.W. Bower and Daniel Street elementary schools.

A "yes" vote would lower minimum busing distance between students' homes and schools from three-fourths of a mile to a half-mile at the elementary level, a mile to three-fourths of a mile in grades 6-8 and 1 1/2 miles to 1 mile in high school.

This would reverse results of a May referendum when residents approved the higher mileage requirement, 2,048 to 1,767.

School board trustees approved a revote, 8-1, after receiving petitions from more than 600 parents. Supporters of the move contend that many voters were confused by the wording of May's proposition, and that cuts would force families to choose between driving children to classes or allowing them to walk across busy roads, including Sunrise Highway.

"Safety is paramount - somebody is going to get hurt," said Valerie McKenna, a former elementary PTA president and supporter of restored busing.

Many local bloggers have objected to a revote, saying that once was enough and that many students in years past walked the same distances now required. "They managed just fine," one commented.