Moorestown Township Public Schools has dropped plans to move its school bus depot from the high school to a lot at the Upper Elementary School, School Board President Mark Villanueva said Tuesday at a board meeting.
Several residents have asked the board to reconsider relocating the bus depot to the school on Bortons Landing Road, citing concerns such as increased traffic, noise issues, environmental concerns, and a transformation of the surrounding area's characteristics.
The announcement was applauded by several audience members. Other audience members thanked the school board during a public comment session for listening to their concerns.
Resident Chad Gonal told the school board the decision "restores (his) faith in elected officials."
Villanueva noted that the school board has not decided on a new spot for the bus depot, asking residents to "please be patient as we continue to evaluate what we are going to do on this campus."
Superintendent Courtney McNeely added that a new home for the school bus depot must be found so that the district can "create a more viable instructional space (and) move the buses to a more secure location."
Referendum update
Villanueva, citing a delay from the state in producing some of its referendum requirements, said a vote on the district bond referendum will be postponed from this March until at least this September and perhaps even this November or December.
The referendum, when it occurs, will reduce class sizes in some of the district elementary schools, relocate sixth graders to the middle school, create new high school programming, improve building infrastructure grounds, parking and traffic flow and upgrade athletic facilities, according to a district website. Villanueva added that the school board hopes to update the district strategic plan for the first time since 2019 once the referendum vote takes place. For more information, go to the district referendum page.
Other action at the Tuesday meeting:
- Board member Claudine Morano said a student cell phone policy may be ready for board review and approval by the end of the school year. She said the policy will likely ban kindergarteners through eighth graders from using phones during the day, ban ninth through 12th graders from using them while in class and will identify some areas — possibly bathrooms and locker rooms — where use of the devices would not be allowed.
- The board voted unanimously to abolish District Policy Number 5755, titled "Equity in Educational Programs and Services." Morano and Karen Benton, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and innovation, told a 70and73.com reporter after the meeting that the New Jersey Department of Education recommended the abolishment after a review concluded the policy's contents duplicate those found in District Policy 1523 (titled "Comprehensive Equity Plan") and 2260 (titled "Equity in School & Classroom Practices Complaint Procedure"), both of which remain in use.
