Every morning, as I try to balance the demands of motherhood and professional responsibilities, I grapple with a transportation issue that weighs heavily on my household. I live in the Suffern school district, a place many of us chose for its community values, and yet each morning presents a challenge that seems insurmountable. My son, like many middle school children in this district attending private schools, does not receive busing. It's an arduous 40-minute drive to his school, compounded by the necessity to juggle getting my other children ready for their day and preparing myself for work. This struggle is not unique to me, but a shared burden carried by many parents and guardians in our community.

The heart of the issue lies in the transportation policies currently excluding private middle school students from receiving the same busing privileges afforded to public school attendees. Many families specifically moved into the Suffern district with the expectation of reasonable access to school transportation, only to find this promise unfulfilled. This situation places an irrefutable strain on families, demanding significant time and resources each morning, often reducing the quality time we can spend with our children.

The Suffern school district services over thousands of students, a notable percentage of whom attend private educational institutions. It is critical to assess existing infrastructure and identify feasible solutions to extend busing services to all students within the district's realm of responsibility, ensuring no child is disadvantaged due to their school choice.

One possible solution is reallocating existing busing resources or potentially partnering with local transportation services to offer equitable access to all students. Such initiatives are practiced in various districts nationwide to great success, highlighting a realistic and actionable pathway for Suffern to follow.

Aside from logistical benefits, such an endeavor would speak volumes about our community's commitment to fairness and equal opportunity. Providing transportation options to all students not only supports their educational journey but also fortifies the family unit by alleviating unnecessary stressors.

We sincerely thank Senator Bill Weber and Congressman Mike Lawler for their dedicated hard work and persistent efforts to collaborate with the Suffern School District on resolving transportation policies for private school students.  Despite the district remaining unresponsive to these outreach efforts, our community deeply appreciates your steadfast leadership and advocacy. We hold the Suffern school district and it’s board fully responsible for failing to provide equal rights to all students- especially our middle schoolers- and we strongly encourage you to continue pressing forward with your efforts until a fair, sustainable solution is reached.

Please, sign this petition if you believe in equitable education infrastructure and stand in unity with Suffern families striving for fair busing solutions for their children.