School Buses For SOMA Kids Supporters:

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in Public Speaks at the BOE meeting last night, both virtually and in-person.  Although the BOE did not provide any substantive response to the demands made in our petition, both Board President Joshua and Superintendent Taylor voiced their support for gathering more information and revisiting the current transportation policy.  This is an encouraging first step.

I have personally followed up with the BOE and Dr. Taylor via email earlier today, and I am encouraging all supporters who feel comfortable reaching out to do the same.

To make this as easy as possible, pasted below is a sample email reiterating your support for the petition, and calling on the BOE and Dr. Taylor to act.  Of course, should you decide to reach out, feel free to edit the sample email to reflect your own tone, views, and story (or to send a different email altogether).

Please also continue to share the petition as widely as possible.

Thank you again for your support!

Best,
Kara

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SAMPLE EMAIL


Email Addresses:

BOE: boemembers@somsd.k12.nj.us

Dr. Taylor: rtaylor@somsd.k12.nj.us

Subject Line: School Buses for SOMA Kids

Email Text:

Dear Board Members & Dr. Taylor:

As evidenced by the School Buses for SOMA Kids petition and the numerous Public Speaks voices heard on Monday night, the SOMA community is in strong support of reducing the school bus eligibility radius to one mile and adding a subscription-based option.  I believe the SOMA community would be supportive of these changes even in the absence of the III, but the III makes this necessary, equitable and common-sense policy.

As many petitioners have pointed out, neighboring towns provide busing services based on a one-mile radius – on a complimentary basis, on a subscription basis, or based on a mix of both.  As stated in the petition, the bare legal minimum is not enough.  SOMA kids deserve more.  The III deserves more.

This email will serve to reiterate my personal support of the petition.  I understand that you are in the process of gathering more information and revisiting the current policy, and I am hopeful these efforts will lead to a fair and workable solution.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this important matter.