A board and administration item to discuss the \u201cNew Transportation Hub Format\u201d was pulled from the agenda of the Northampton Area School District Board of Education meeting June 15 after parents and guardians spoke in opposition to the plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now, we\u2019ll put it on hold,\u201d school board President John Becker said of the transportation discussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 2026-27, it will be status quo,\u201d NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said of district bus transportation of students.<\/p>\n
Kovalchik said the plan would be revisited with possible implementation for the 2027-28 school year.<\/p>\n
School board members put forth the idea of a task force to study student busing in the 97.3-square-mile district.<\/p>\n
On May 26, NASD parents and guardians of charter and non-public school students were emailed a three-page letter about a \u201chub-based transportation model\u201d and a six-page \u201cCharter\/Non-Public Transportation Frequently-Asked Questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
A copy of each letter was obtained by Northampton Press. Quotes are added for clarity of attribution.<\/p>\n
The three-page letter from the Northampton Area School District administration begins:<\/p>\n
\u201cDear Parents and Guardians of Charter and Non-Public School Students,<\/p>\n
\u201cBeginning with the 2026-2027 school year, similar to other local school districts, NASD will transition from a traditional door-to-school model to a hub-based transportation model. In addition, students who were previously transported but lived within state-defined walking boundaries will now be required to walk to a bus stop.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the new hub model, the daily morning transportation process for non-public and charter school students will be as follows:<\/p>\n
\u201c1. Neighborhood Pickup<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents who are eligible for transportation in non-public and charter schools will be assigned to neighborhood bus stops along with NASD public school students in accordance with state law and district policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents who are not eligible for transportation because they live near the school will be assigned to one of four bus stops.<\/p>\n
\u201c2. Arrival at the NASD Secondary Campus (Transportation Hub)<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the morning transportation bus runs, non-public, charter and NASD secondary students will travel together to the NASD secondary campus. This campus will serve as the central transportation hub.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to the schools\u2019 geographic proximity and bell schedules, Executive Education, Lincoln Leadership and Allentown Central Catholic, for both the morning and afternoon runs, students will be picked up and transported together to a school hub in Allentown, at the time of writing this letter, tentatively scheduled to take place at Executive Education Charter School, located at 555 Union Blvd., Allentown, PA 18109. Additional transportation personnel will be present to ensure student safety.<\/p>\n
\u201c3. Secure and Supervised Transfer for Non-Public and Charter Students<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents will arrive at the secondary campus hub at approximately 6:55 a.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce all buses and shuttle buses are parked in our bus loop between the high school and middle school, non-public and charter students will be released from their initial buses to designated NASD staff members.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese staff members will help students find and board their assigned shuttle buses.<\/p>\n
\u201cDistrict uniformed police officers will be present to support safety and security during arrival and transfers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNASD secondary students will not be released to enter the building or move through the campus hub area until all non-public and charter students have boarded their shuttle buses.<\/p>\n
\u201c4. Departure to Non-Public and Charter Schools<\/p>\n
\u201cNon-Public\/Charter school shuttle buses will depart from the secondary campus and proceed to your child(ren)\u2019s designated school.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor afternoon drop-off, non-public and charter students will be transported directly from their schools back to their neighborhood bus stops.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the June 15 school board meeting, parents said the hub transportation could require a two-hour bus ride for students, younger students should not ride with older students, and it\u2019s unfair to parents who pay NASD taxes and non-public school tuition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pay taxes and the only benefit we have is busing,\u201d a parent said.<\/p>\n
The NASD school board\u2019s next meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. July 20 in the auditorium at Northampton Area High School, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.<\/p>\n
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