Parents Demand Action as Clarkstown School District Faces Growing Transportation Crisis; Large Turnout Expected at Tomorrow Night’s Board Meeting

By Yisroel R.

Parents in the Clarkstown Central School District are preparing for a large turnout at Thursday night’s school board meeting, as frustration continues to grow over what many describe as a deeply flawed private school transportation system. The gathering is being organized with support from Kol Yisroel, an advocacy organization that helps community members resolve issues with public agencies and improve communication between residents and local officials.

At the center of the dispute is the district’s decision to provide only one morning route and one afternoon route for all private school students, regardless of age, grade, or dismissal time. Parents say this one-size-fits-all model creates unrealistic and often unworkable school days. Younger children are brought to school far earlier than the building opens, while many students must wait long after the school day has ended before being picked up. Families argue that no public school parent would tolerate such an arrangement, yet private school families have been expected to adapt to it for more than two years.

Many parents also point out that due to these schedules, schedules they describe as unreasonable and not matching the schools’ actual needs, many buses run almost empty throughout the year. Families are then forced to drive their children daily or pay thousands of dollars for private transportation just to properly accommodate the school’s schedule.

A letter circulated by parent Jack P. this week captured the growing frustration within the community. In the letter, he describes a transportation system that families believe has become “dysfunctional” and unresponsive to basic needs. He wrote that parents have “asked the most basic questions” such as why buses run nearly empty, why public school students receive additional late buses while private school families do not, and why the district has refused to adjust its schedules to match the real dismissal times of the schools it serves. According to Jack and other parents, these concerns have gone unanswered for more than two years despite repeated outreach.

Another major concern raised by families is the lack of coordination with private school administrators. Parents say the district has never conducted meaningful discussions to understand the schools’ schedules or explore simple adjustments that could reduce unnecessary driving time and improve service for students. Instead, some parents were told they should consider enrolling their children in before or after school programs, a suggestion they viewed as dismissive and unrelated to the actual transportation problem.

Kol Yisroel is urging families to attend Thursday’s board meeting, where many parents plan to speak publicly about their experiences and request immediate changes. The meeting will take place Thursday, December 11, at 7:30 PM at 62 Old Middletown Road in New City. Organizers say they expect a significant turnout, reflecting the growing concern within the community.

After more than two years of attempts to work with the district through emails, meetings, and proposed solutions, parents say they are now looking for concrete commitments and a transportation plan that reflects the real needs of the families the district serves. Many community members believe this week’s meeting represents a crucial moment for their voices to finally be heard.