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TOMS RIVER — The township’s regional school district expects to pay $1.1 million to transport students to private schools, a more than six-fold increase over recent years, the Asbury Park Press reported.
Public school districts are required to provide transportation services to students in their communities that attend private schools. If busing cannot be provided, the district can pay families a $1,000 stipend.
Toms River has more than 15,000 students. It has a transportation expense of more than $14.6 million in a budget of about $242.3 million.
The Asbury Park Press reported that Toms River has seen an influx of Orthodox Jewish families, who often place their children in private or special-needs schools.
In neighboring Lakewood, the district spends millions on transportation and costs related to private school students, who number 32,000.
Property owners who send their children to private schools continue to pay school taxes.
Aren’t they laying teachers and staff off next year??????
Mark Kurilla yes and cutting some programs and activities. Ugh
Barbara Sigley Silva same in Manchester ☹️
Doesn’t make sense.
Christine Ferreira makes perfect sense if you are of different religion
Not good
Paul Jean Perillo it’s awful ??
So glad i am not a bus driver for toms river schools anymore?
Tracy Lipnick-Sikorski ditto
Seems like if you were a bus driver this would be a good thing. More opportunities to earn money
Leaching off of surrounding towns life couldn’t be better. And they don’t care because they feel it’s their right! ?
John Sorrentino until someone has the balls to call a spade, a spade, the corruption will continue.
They get all their rights taken care of while the taxpayers constantly get shafted, all for their large block of votes.
Such bullshit!
That law needs to change
Arthur Ackerman that’s the bottom line exactly. The law is antiquated and is no longer sustainable in today’s world. It needs to be repealed for everyone.
Fuck them and their fairy in the sky religion. Let them support themselves learning about religious fairy tales! Scam enough money off the fucking system and have a litter of kids they claim to not be able to support.
I’m wondering with all the money Lakewood received if other town that bus kids to their private schools can band together and sue for reimbursement.
We need to move! ?
Janet Mutter I have one more year, hoping less.
Toms River should be having an influx of homes for sale. And guess who will buy? They knew what they were doing!
That’s bull shit they should have to pay for it not the town ship
This is wrong. They are paying for kids to go to a private school then they should foot the bill them selves for the transportation to them schools. It’s not fair that tax payers have to foot the bill. It doesn’t work this way for private catholic schools.
Kevin Brzozowski But their fairy tale religion is more important
Kevin Brzozowski yes it does. I live in Berkeley and pay taxes there. My daughter will be going to St. Joe’s in Toms River starting in September. Berkeley will bus her there because my taxes pay for that.
None of them work let them drive their own kids to school
Nicole Gibson but usually these kids ride the bus with everyone else…boys and girls….they pick them up at regular time as others ride with others are dropped to St Joe’s as part of the run. No special buses and separation of sexes is needed….and there are over 100 different schools they can pick from in Lakewood
My son went to st Joes and is now in donovan and if I am correct there needs to be a certain amount of kids being bussed or they won’t get the transportation funding.
Kevin Brzozowski it would take over 100 buses to get all the kids to school on time and take them to there 100 different schools.Donovan and St.Joes are one location that’s it not spread out or segregated.They know what they are doing and it’s called stealing the money from the school system and that’s just what they tend to do.
Kevin Brzozowski Yes, it does work that way for Catholic school kids.
Nicole GibsonI’m sure you know that your taxes also pay for her public education. Berkeley loves you because They’re only spending $1000. of your school taxes. It saves the district money.
Fucking bullshit
That’s just the beginning get ready Toms River it’s all downhill from here.
That’s right. I’ve said it for months now.
All of Ocean County will be lost
All of Ocean County will be lost
M O V I N G…
Nicole Damato Dunne where you going?! ?
how about we write to our representatives and see what can be done about the law or tag em?
Kimberlly Flor Adela Ortega-Flores for the millionth time ?! It doesn’t help …
Nicole Marie Palmer where do you think Senator Singer has connections
Voting block , dont cross them
Don’t bother. Just move and save yourself the aggravation.
Kimberlly Flor Adela Ortega-Flores that’s funny. Our reps are in the pockets of that community
How about they dont make the boys and girls segregate on the buses and make it cheaper since the surrounding areas are losing teachers, programs and so forth while they get private school bus money and a fucking pony
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L4JCPNN
I remember the days when you can actually drive thru Lakewood. Nowadays forget about it takes you two hours to move five feet!
Also stop signs are just suggestions.
State tax money… what ever happened to separation of church & state?
Are you kidding me
If the people who took money from the schools and other places in your town you can pay for yourself. That is so wrong. What happened to the 5.3 million Lakewood got from Murphy? Oh someone stole it already
Richard Tarrant duh! ??♀️
Don’t bother me I don’t have to pay for another towns poor management of there schools.
Richard Tarrant what a jackass looks like
No you forgot your fat ass picture out laura Schindler lange
A toms river elementary school is going from three classrooms per grade down to two classrooms per grade. Thats at least 25, if not higher, kids in each classroom. Its unfair to the teachers and students.. yet they are paying for this.. the system is flawed
Wow that’s messed up
This is just the beginning. Once they start exempting their homes as houses of worship (in surrounding towns) to go tax free their burden will also be passed on to the non orthodox. Lakewood has over 350 exempt properties and growing.
Correct
Pat Romano it has already started waldon woods was taken over
Although it seems unfair; the law requires that our town bus students to their place of education, if the town chooses not to bus they must provide transportation voucher which comes from transportation taxes that all residents pay into from their taxes ….. this was only a concern now due to who and the sheer volume of reimbursement. To be fair, the town has been doing it this way for over 15 years …: if they do t bus your child they reimburse you 900.00 for the year …. it is for Jewish, catholic, Christian, etc schooos…. all schools that your child can attend within (I believe) a 20 mile radius. It is not only for Jewish schools, I recieved this when I had my children at St Dominica in brick.
You are so right, stop knocking other religions. That is wrong
Nobody made them move here they chose it so they can take their own kids to school then or they can move back to the dump
Hahaa how ridiculous is this. But yet it’s ok to lay off teachers in Toms River. Doesn’t make sense you want to live in Toms River but u go to school in Lakewood . Drive your own kids to school. Who the hell is running Toms River. Shame shame. ???????
Joann Allegro Crossley they have the right to go to Toms River schools if they live in town if they don’t want to and choose To go else where that’s their choice now they have to live with consequences of it but I guess getting 8 kids to school on time is difficult
Yes and boys w boys n girls w girls, why the f$ck do i have to pay for that
Joann Allegro Crossley apparently Lakewood
Only a matter of time before Tom’s river looks like Lakewood.
Cindi Hamm 10 to 20 years
It’s already starting. Go down Cox Cro Rd. Almost every friggin house they either bought or is currently for sale. The yards are already trashed with garbage. They fill up the recycling cans with bags of garbage and don’t care. The township leaves them there (rightfully so) but eventually they’ll get a pass on that too. Wait until they build up RT.9 and Cox Cro at the old pizza plaza. Peoples heads are gonna roll.
Cockroaches continue to pay local politicians off?
If we just give ocean county to the hasidics we can let them run it to the ground on their own..who’s going to fund your wic, food stamps, rental assistance and your buses to your daycares that provide “education”
Mae Boquel the other counties as the state run programs will kick in
Why isn’t there a federal probe into all this crap ?
Let’s remember that the folks that use private schools pay school tax that isn’t used to educate their child.
Donna Richards large majority are renters .
Debra Toppetta Majeski
Debra Toppetta Majeski doesn’t matter if they’re renters, someone owns their house and pays property taxes.
people who have no children also pay school taxes
There go the property taxes ⬆️⬆️⬆️
This is no different then sending your kids to a Catholic School. This is what is provided by law! What’s changed is, in the past only a small few sent there child to a private school. Now its become a normal choice to send a child to a private school… Reguardless of your Religous views!
Just taking advantage of what the state is willing to give. Government is the cause of all of this mess.
Stephen DeSanto difference is there are over 100different schools in Lakewood and boys and girls can’t ride the same bus. They can’t just pick up these kids with regular kids and incorporate the ride into another bus route like they do with the Catholic school. The Catholic school kids are often picked up at the same bus stop and time as other kids…then the regular kids are dropped and bus continues to Catholic school. The Lakewood situation will be much more complicated due to their religious constraints
Stephen DeSanto exactly
Do you know they used to have buses? You want to know what happened to the buses? All of the company’s got sick and tired of they’re disrespectful, ignorant, freeloading bullshit. All the drivers took their buses and went home, never to return. maybe if they didn’t all treat everyone like crap, they wouldn’t be in the position they’re in, with no buses, no drivers, no nothing!
Sue Pappagallo
Your taxes pay to go to pupil schools send them there.
Parents pay for Private schools. Tax payers pay to send others to a private school????
This is just wrong.
You pay for your kid or kids to go to private schools you pay for it yourself. Don’t be a Leach
I’m tired of this shit ! They rape us in taxes and they pay NONE! Let them pay for their own fucking buses .
Shannon Crammer
The bottom line is Toms River shouldn’t have to pay a dime if your child goes to private school out of district.
Joseph Chadwick be careful now. You do realize that private school families pay for private school and still pay tax dollars to the public school system. If we all decided to put our kids into the public system, the public
school system would be screwed. In TR, how many kids go to St, Joe’s and Donovan? Take those 2000 kids and put them into TR public schools. Now what??? You already have their money. Can’t charge them more. 2 sides to every coin.
How would the public schools be screwed if these children attended The public school system?Toms River tax payers are being screwed by paying for these transport cost for children to go to school out of district.Saint Joseph and Donovan are transported to there schools in Toms River by Toms River.
The real problem lies in the fact that they have over 100 private schools that are spread through out the town of Lakewood.It would take a day and a week to transport these children to each individual school.So in that case they have Toms River by the you know what!!!!!!
Joseph Chadwick you don’t understand that adding 2000 to the school system without adding money would be a burden? Private school relieves a lot of the monetary burden on the public system. I agree that something needs to be done but be very careful about using ‘private’ school as a blanket statement.
So if i pay to have my child attend Catholic school in a different town I can get free bussing to that town ??
Linda Rosa Simeone you will get a $1000 check for transportation each year for each child if the district doesn’t transport the child/children.Thats why the cost are 1.1million because we have 1100 kids in the district that go to private Lakewood schools.
Joseph Chadwick How much would it be if those 1100 kids went to public school ??? I think the busing is a lot cheaper
And that $1,100 will continue to rise as the influx of Jewish families move here. We’re going to be lakewood south before you can imagine!
Joseph Chadwick separate buses for boys and girls I’m sure! Additional costs
Yes, you can. I believe there is a 20 mile limit. If there is no bus provided, you will be given money.
Linda: I live in Brick, my kids went to Saint Peter school in Point. They were bused to school and back.
Tracy Ann James it would take over 100 buses to get all the kids to school on time and take them to there 100 different schools.Donovan and St.Joes are one location that’s not spread out or segregated.They know what they are doing and it’s called stealing the money from the school system and that’s just what they tend to do.
Doreen Smith Kozlak it’s against the law to segregate so if Toms River decided to transport I’m sure they would put that law in play.
Nancy Carolan how many salaries could $1.1million pay how much congestion on the roadways would that stop?Im sure it would be much more cost effective to send them to public schools.?
Linda Rosa Simeone yes
They want it they should pay for their own busing this is ridiculous how can this go through ? If they have the money for building they have money for that
Cindi Burns it’s state law that entities them to bussing because they pay property taxes that support the public school. The law needs changed at the state level
Kathie Fanning really to private schools why do other people have to drive their kids and they all don’t pay property taxes then let Lakewood pay for it
We have 1,100 kids in Toms River that go to Lakewood private schools and that number will continue to grow each year.$1000 per child x 1,100 =1.1 million dollars.And will rise as the town grows ?
Stay in Lakewood I don’t know why everybody bows down to these people they are the rudest And think they own the world
Dan Sempkowski manahawkin here we come
Katie Lynn theyre here too..And even worse in Tuckerton/LEH…Check the tax books for LLC”S..
The Hasidic calling card!!
Katie Lynn LBI also
Aaaand shit like this is exactly why I’ll never work on the books in NJ as long as I live ???
I’m just gonna sit back and laugh cause the fuckin state allows this shit to happen. They’ll realize how bad they fucked up letting them get away with literal murder when the public starts taking matters into their own hands with these pieces of scum
Keep voting Democrat. You’ll learn…
George Williams democrat or republican…. No one has the balls to stand up to the orthodox jews in fear of being labeled anti-semetic
Diana Marie unfortunately you may be right
Shit was funny when only Lakewood had to do it right? Remember that as you pay more and more
Just out of curiosity, did everyone read the last line about continuing to pay property tax? Imagine how much it would cost if all those students returned to TR schools. More teachers would need to be hired, possibly administrators, custodians etc. Consider how much it would cost the district (I.e taxpayers).
Glenn Spike Geist people only read and see what they want
Glenn Spike Geist So true! I taught in a public school district. Having some students attend private schools was financially advantageous for the public school district. The only time it was disappointing was when a bright student left in the middle of a school year, before state testing.
Denise Richmond
Meanwhile our schools continue to be in disrepair. They have cut over 100 positions for next year, but yeah wth let’s give them free transportation to private schools. This is complete insanity.
Wrong, Vicari wrong!
When I lived in Carteret the town paid for bussing to Catholic HS for my daughter, to Clark, and my son to Metuchen. But remember I paid property taxes and never used their schools.
But over 100 schools and boys and girls can’t ride on the same bus even if going to same school
Kathie Fanning wow
I don’t have kids, pay taxes and believe if YOU choose a private school YOU pay for transportation. And yes still pay your taxes, again its YOUR choice.
Heather Chafatelli , people who don’t put their kids in the public schools are saving the taxpayers a lot more than bus fare by doing so.
Curious …. what does Toms River do about the kids that live in Ortley Beach?
Nancy Carolan bus boys and girls together
Nancy Carolan Ortley Beach is part of Toms River Township and by district, the children in Ortley Beach attend East Dover Elem
Tracey Nardini Fournier I know it’s part of TR. I was wondering where they went to school.
TR total disgrace!!! Our schools in TR needs money to fix school, sports for kids keep teachers . If I’m not mistaking TR is largest district in NJ we need help. Not Lakewood. SMH!! Thank God my son only has 2 years left. But I feel bad Future kids.
Are they actual schools?
Whats that say on the bus
Do the Lakewood schools comply with state educational testing, and teach all subjects…or just religion?
Joan Brackman they do not teach “secular education”
Joan Brackman the public schools do not the private ones
Joan Brackman private schools teach what they want. Public schools teach regular state curriculum
#assbackwards
Be like me. Quit your job and do not give them anything. If you’re still working, you’re part of the problem??♂️??♂️??♂️
Why didnt they jus take over Chicago and rebuild that shitshow ??
how much time have you spent in Chicago?
If you do not pay taxes then figure out how to get your own dam kids to school!
Bye, Toms River…
Start thinking deeper. How will this effect our children in the community.
It would cut the cost down so much if they actually had boys and girls on the same bus…I see half a bus of girls and half a bus of boys…. combine them and make one bus…save money
Make them
PAY themselves!!
Tired of them getting everything!
This is how Lakewood’s schools ended up in the mess they are in. Good luck
Tell them to move to Lakewood if that is where they want there children to go to school
Well Lakewood s getting $20 Million so let them reimburse Toms River. Then after sometime they’ll stop moving here because the cost will go up.
And they’ll probably take the $1k compensation and spend it on bullshit, they don’t need the money for transportation, the pregnant moms are recklessly driving around anyway, maybe they can try and bring their own kids to school if they aren’t busy making more
If the public school busses your child to a private school, like St Joe’s, you don’t get the $1,000.00. You get it if the district can’t accommodate your bussing needs.
How much per student would providing bus service actually cost per child? The parents get $1,000.00 if the child does NOT get bussed. This is a fair question! The answer could be less or more than $1,000. I don’t know the answer. Does anyone?
nice little dog-whistle with the “guess who”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! Tons of long term employees are losing their jobs and now THIS. What a joke!!! ???
That law needs to change period. If you want private school you pay for your own transportation otherwise PUBLIC tax money goes to PUBLIC school. End of story!!!!!
Childless tax payer here, I believe if YOU choose a private school, then YOU pay for your own transportation. And yes still pay your taxes just like me, because again it is YOUR choice. I have no choice and use NO resources…
Yeah agreed…nice dog whistle. Hey, build your FB following on hate.
If you choose to go to a Catholic/private school that is your own business. We should not have to suffer for that. Such bs
Wow. Nice break for TR. It would have cost $20,000/year to educate each child here. I don’t think TR or LW has the infrastructure to school all these kids in public schools. That would mean more money would have to be allocated to building bigger schools. So it’s good that some are going out of district to be schooled somewhere else where their parents are paying tuition (in addition to paying their taxes here). Let’s not forget how many of these TR kids would need to be bussed to their local public school, anyway – it still would have cost TR $ to bus them to a TR schools. Do the math. The spread of misinformation is nauseating.
These pieces of fucking shit need to be stopped ive had it with this ridiculous bullshit.
Doesn’t make any difference