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Bus Problems

he Jewish Federation and all area
congregations believe that we can help
ensure our future through Jewish education.

New routes and times for Southfield school buses
vex Akiva and Yeshiva students.

DIANA LIEBERMAN
Staff Writer

S

\

_

ome parents at Yeshivat
Akiva and Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah will have to do
more driving this year, as the
Southfield Public Schools tightens up
its busing policy.
State law requires public schools to
offer transportation to students who
both live and attend school within the
district. But it doesn't say the trans-
portation provided has to be conve-
nient.
And parents at Akiva say the new
system isn't convenient at all. "They
are definitely not happy about it," said
Michael Greenbaum, the school's pres-
ident.
About 60-70 of Akiva's families live
within Southfield boundaries, said
Rabbi Karmi Gross, the school's prin-
cipal.
He said public school officials asked
him three months ago if Akiva could
change its hours, to start at 9 a.m. and
leave at 4. "We can't do it," he told
them.
Akiva holds morning services, and,
at certain times of the year, 9 a.m.
would be too late.
Students in grades 7 and above start
school at 7:30 a.m., which,
Greenbaum said, has always been too
early for dependable bus transporta-
tion. However, the younger students
start at 8:30 — "and that group of
parents is upset," he said.
"We feel that one of the few things
we get for our taxes is transportation,"
Greenbaum said. "They've come up
with a compromise, but for people on
the west side of Lahser, they may as
well drive all the way to the school."
The compromise calls for two pick-
ups in the morning, one on the city's
east end and one on the west. In the
past, students were picked up near
their homes. In addition, some private
'school students will be sharing buses
with public school students, instead of
having dedicated routes.
The school district is offering a
shuttle that transportation supervisor
Mike Steinhabel says would get stu-
dents to Akiva by 7:30.
At Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, about 50

to 75 students are eligible for the pub-
lic school transportation. Days before
the Yeshiva opened its doors
Wednesday, the school district
arranged a shuttle leaving Stevenson
Elementary School at 8:20 a.m., to
arrive at the Yeshiva in time for an
8:30 start.
"If we had to go through the neigh-
borhood, we couldn't get there until
8:43," Steinhabel said.
Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, the Yeshiva's
executive director, was philosophical
about the less convenient service.
"In these kinds of things, the
schools see they can make a savings,"
he said. "Certainly, they are well with-
in the letter of the law."
The changes will not affect Yeshivas
Darchei Torah, also located in
Southfield, saidTrincipal Sarah Kahn,
because the school's start times coin-
cide with the timing of the Southfield
Public Schools bus routes.
School district spokesman Ken
Siver said all students in Southfield,
whether they attend private or public
schools, are being asked to walk far-
ther to bus stops.
"We have not asked the private
schools to give up anything we have
not asked our own students to give
up," he said.
The school district spends about
$4 million each year — about 4 per-
cent of the yearly budget — on trans-
portation. Last year, there were 1,400
..bus stops in all, serving about 9,000
students. In addition to neighbor-
hood schools, the district offers mag-
net programs, including gifted and
talented, special education, extended
year and English as a Second
Language. .
"We were out of fixes," Siver said.
"We had kids in Southfield who were
on the bus an hour or more just to
attend school in Southfield. "We did
not find this acceptable.
So far, the solution the district
found is just barely acceptable to
Akiva and Beth Yehudah.
"It gives us something," Rabbi
Gross said. "Parents are asking why
they can't provide the same service
they used to. But this is what we have
for this year. We'll take it up again
next year."

This year, Federation allocated $500,000 to
congregations and schools for scholarships.

Don't let finances stand in the way. If you would like
your son or daughter to attend afternoon/Sunday
school, but are prevented by financial concerns, this

program is for you.

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

One call is all it takes to see
if you qualify. All calls are
kept strictly confidential.

Call the synagogue,
temple or school of your
choice to find out more.

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