BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN - Forty-one local children who attend St. Gregory's and Our Lady of Sorrows in Robbinsville may have difficulty finding transportation to those schools in September.

The bus contractor, Delaware Valley Bus Line Inc., of Trenton, did not renew its contract with the Upper Freehold Regional School District for nonpublic transportation to and from St. Gregory's and Our Lady of Sorrows schools this year.

Viola Yosifon, the school district's business administrator, told the Board of Education at its Aug. 15 meeting that the company would not renew its contract unless the district reduced the number of stops on the route.

The board had contracted with the company for the 2005-06 school year at a cost of $29,873.

Yosifon said the company wanted its route reduced this year due to the rising costs of fuel.

Yosifon said that she previously met with several parents who were unhappy with the company's chosen bus stops, which included the Cream Ridge Golf Club on Route 539 and Phil's restaurant on Route 526. Yosifon said the parents came up with several other stops, but the contractor refused to change the route.

"If the contractor refuses it, we have no bus," she said.

Tom Battaglia, the father of a St. Gregory's student, said the school bus stops were clustered on private property. He said parents were concerned about the safety and location of the stops.

Battaglia said parents suggested a shorter bus route. According to Battaglia, the previous route had been more than 30 miles, while parents suggested a new route that only measured 12.5 miles.

Yosifon told Battaglia that it is beyond the board's control if the bus company would not accept the proposed route.

Another resident complained to the board that nine children used the Route 539 bus stop, which is in an area that does not have sidewalks.

Yet another resident, Jerry Matteo, said he spoke to a business owner who has concerns with liability issues because of the children in his parking lot.

Yosifon said the bus stops on the road, not in the parking lot. She said the bus stops at some locations were chosen because they have parking for parents dropping off their children.

Dr. Robert Frascella, a resident of the Woods at Cream Ridge development off Sharon Station Road, said the board must realize the serious liability involved if his children are dropped off at the restaurant. There are no sidewalks at that bus stop, he said, and children should not be expected to walk down busy Sharon Station Road.

Frascella asked the board if it could put a stop in his neighborhood.

Yosifon said the district will now have to go out to bid for the route, but that given the late date transportation may not be available at the beginning of the year. Due to rising fuel costs, fewer contractors are bidding on nonpublic routes, she said.

Kathy Winecoff, who is Millstone Township's representative on the regional board, said, "It's a contractor's market right now."

Yosifon said the district does not have enough buses or drivers on its own staff to take over the route.

Yosifon said that transportation coordinator Lynnette Foulks has already let other bus companies know about the district's need. She said that if the district does not receive a bid for the route, parents may receive state aid in the amount of $824 in lieu of student transportation.

Winecoff said that Millstone recently ran into a similar situation with its late bus route to Notre Dame High School in the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence.

She said the district was able to contract out the route with another vendor, so parents signed their aid in lieu of transpiration checks directly over to the bus company.

Winecoff said subscription busing may be another option for parents.