Schools

5 Things to Know About the School Bus Vote

Here's a guide to polling locations, what a "yes" and "no" vote would mean, and more.

The new vote on busing is here. With polls open, here is what you need to know before you cast your vote.

1. The transportation referendum vote will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and there are four poling stations. The locations are as follows:

  • To vote at Smithtown Elementary Auditorium: you must live West of Hauppauge Road (Route 111), south of Jericho Turnpike; west of Fifty-Acre Road South and Fifty-Acre Road, north of Jericho Turnpike.
  • To vote at St. James Elementary Auditorium: you must live east of Fifty-Acre Road South and Fifty-Acre Road, north of Jericho Turnpike.
  • To vote at Nesconset Elementary School Gymnasium: you must live east of Hauppauge Road (Route 111) and south of Jericho Turnpike.
  • To vote at Accompsett Elementary School Auditorium: you must live west of the LIRR and north of Jericho Turnpike and Creek Road.

2. With reports of confusion at the polls on May 17, the district provided exactly what a "yes" and a "no" vote would mean. Here is what you'll be voting on

Find out what's happening in Smithtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A vote of "yes" would mean:

  • Kindergarten through fifth grade students will all have bus transportation
  • Students in grades six through 12 who live further than one mile from their school would receive bus transportation
  • Private elementary and secondary students would receive bus transportation to schools within 20 miles of their home.

A vote of "no" vote would mean:

Find out what's happening in Smithtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Kindergarten through fifth grade students that live less than one-half mile from their school would not receive bus transportation
  • Students in grades six through 12 living less than one-and-one-half miles from their school would not receive bus transportation
  • Private elementary school students that live less than one-half mile or more than 15 miles of their school would not receive bus transportation
  • Private secondary school students who live less than one-and-one-half miles or more than 15 miles would not receive bus transportation.
    • The school district stated centralized pickup is available for students in private school living more than 15 miles from their school if other students in the district live within the 15 mile limit, as per state law.

3. The school district stated that if the proposition is adopted the cost to the district would be roughly $871,917, but would not change the budget adopted on May 17 for the 2011-12 school year. If adopted, the changes to the transportation distances would go in effect Oct. 11. 

4. Last Thursday we posted a question asking if the Board of Education made the right decision in voting to hold a new vote on busing. With the question we also posted a poll asking if there should there be a new vote on bus cuts. At time of publication, 74 people responded total with 38 votes stating it was a mistake to have a new vote and 34 votes stating the vote is needed. Check out what was said in the comment section .

5. When questioned about how you felt about your kids having to walk to school when they never did before and if there were crossing guards at the dangerous intersections, Patch readers left more than 100 responses. For your neighbors opinions, check out what was said


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