Mom: Two-Hour Trip to School’s too Much

COURT HOUSE – A 25-minute school bus ride from here to North Wildwood has turned into a grueling two-hour, one-way trip for children of Court House resident Sandra McAtamney.
The 12-mile bus trip has become a long experience. “My children attend Cape Trinity Catholic School in North Wildwood. Middle Township provides busing for Cape Trinity. We received a postcard with a 6:20 a.m. pickup and 4:20 p.m. dropoff on Friday afternoon before the holiday (Labor Day Weekend). That was a dirty trick. School starts at 8:05 a.m. and gets out at 2:20 p.m.” McAtamney explained.
“I have called the (Middle Township) transportation department several times and get different answers. I have also called the board of education several times and get different answers. Both blame the other and take my number for someone to return my call,” she said. “No one has called me back but the driver who called last night, to change the pickup time to 6 a.m. and the drop off after 4:30 p.m. She was very nice but her hands are tied. The bus was even 35 minutes late for school yesterday. This is not acceptable for children to ride the bus for more than four hours a day!” she declared.
When the Herald called the school and Middle Township Transportation Department for comment, neither returned the call. Cape Trinity Catholic stated in an email that “we have no official comment at this time,” wrote Julie Roche, advancement director.
McAtamney’s frustration and concern for her children prompted her to contact the Middle Township mayor and the State of New Jersey as well. “It is 12 miles from Cape May Court House to North Wildwood. The total trip takes me less than 15 minutes. I have gotten different answers from Middle Transportation. Some said if first pickup then first off bus in the afternoon. But that wasn’t true. The drop off time changed from 4:20 p.m. to sometime after 4:30 p.m. The children’s pick up time was changed from 6:20 a.m. to 6 a.m. said McAtamney.
In exasperation McAtamney stated she contacted Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) who acted swiftly with “A call saying he will make some calls on our behalf.”
McAtamney confirmed that Van Drew called her and that she would receive a call from “the president of the Middle Township board.” They are hoping to resolve this issue and solve this transportation dilemma. If more information is forthcoming, a follow up will be published.