Busing for 3,000 Freehold students restored, see how it happened

FREEHOLD — Some 3,000 students who attend the Freehold Regional High School District will not have to walk to school in September, thanks to bi-partisan legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Phil Murphy.

The legislation restores so-called "courtesy busing" to Freehold Regional students who live less than 2.5 miles from their six high schools: located in Colts Neck, Howell, Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Manalapan and Marlboro. New Jersey law only requires busing for high students that live more than 2.5 miles from their schools.

In late April, Freehold Regional cut courtesy busing as a means of saving $3.5 million in the 2023-24 school year. The decision was prompted by a cut in state aid to the district, down from $30.5 million to $23.7 million, or 22.14%.

The change would have affected about 30% of the district's more than 10,000 students.

In June, State Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, co-sponsored a bill alongside Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, who also represents Monmouth County, to restore courtesy busing for Freehold Regional.

The legislation ‒ which Murphy signed Wednesday ‒ also prevents future budget cuts to school districts that serve more than five municipalities, demonstrate cost savings through regionalization, spend at least 15% less than average for administrative costs compared to other regional districts, and have raised their local taxes the maximum amount allowed by state law over the past five years, Gopal's staff said.

Previously: Proposal would save busing for thousands of Monmouth County students

"This legislation recognizes the tremendous work Freehold Regional has done to control costs through regionalization and will preserve essential services in the district going forward," Gopal said in a statement.

Freehold Regional Superintendent Charles Sampson also welcomed the news.

"I want to thank Sen. Vin Gopal and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon for getting this bi-partisan bill passed, which will end school funding cuts for model regional school districts like Freehold Regional,” he said in a statement shared by Gopal's staff. "This has been a long road and I want to thank all of the parents, students, and stakeholders who have advocated for this outcome, as the future of Freehold Regional looks very bright."

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Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Freehold Regional students won't have to walk: Courtesy busing approved