Eastchester families who appealed their children's loss of bus service now have a clearer picture of how those decisions were made, following a community forum and a detailed message from Superintendent Dr. Alison Villanueva.
About 295 families filed transportation appeals after voters approved new distance minimums in June. The district reviewed each one against four criteria: the student's distance from school, IEP or 504 plan accommodations, childcare considerations and any additional circumstances the family provided, according to the superintendent's Aug. 22 message.
Some appeals were granted. The district did not say how many.
An appeal could succeed only when the circumstances fell within New York State law and a physical seat remained on an existing route after all distance-eligible students were assigned. With the fleet cut from 18 large buses to six, seats were scarce from the start.
Forum at Mulino's
Town Supervisor Tony Colavita, Police Chief Joe Rodriguez and Villanueva presented together at a community forum on Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Mulino's.
Town Council members Anthony Giacobbe and Sheila Marcotte, Town Clerk Joe Dooley and district administrators Elliot Sheldon, Rob Jacoby and Dr. William Meyer also attended.
The forum covered traffic flow, arrival and dismissal procedures, and parking lot construction underway at each of the district's five school buildings: Anne Hutchinson, Greenvale, Waverly, Eastchester Middle School and Eastchester High School.
Villanueva said Colavita and Rodriguez have worked with the district since the second budget vote passed June 16.
Parking lot work underway
Construction crews are working on parking lot improvements at all five school buildings ahead of the new school year. The projects aim to ease longstanding congestion during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup.
The district acknowledged the work will not eliminate traffic problems entirely but said it should create a smoother experience for families navigating the new drop-off reality.
State Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin secured $2 million in state emergency aid to help offset costs removed from the district's budget.
Voters approved the $112.7 million spending plan on June 16, with the budget passing 2,404 to 552. Proposition 2, which increased the minimum distance for bus eligibility, passed more narrowly at 1,715 to 1,272.
What families should know
As we reported Aug. 23, most appeals were denied. Families received updated transportation letters through ParentSquare on Aug. 13. Those whose appeals were granted got a separate email directly from the superintendent's office.
Families who believe there is a discrepancy in their transportation information or whose circumstances have changed can contact the Transportation Department.
Building principals sent follow-up messages on Aug. 22 with arrival and dismissal reminders, and a fuller FAQ from the forum will be posted on the district's transportation website.
The transportation distance increase, which took effect July 1, set the bus-eligibility minimum at 1 mile for grades K–5 and 1.5 miles for grades 6–12, saving the district $1.93 million annually.
