Williamstown Parents Steamed

With the new school year about to begin, parents in one New Jersey town have been notified that their children may have to walk to school. The district is cutting some school bus service in Williamstown. The neighborhood is near busy Routes 42 and 322 in Gloucester County.

Monroe Township school district officials sent letters to area parents to inform them that the township council cut the district's budget by $3.2 million. The cut forced the district to reduce school bus services, meaning that some middle and high school students would have to walk as far as 2½ miles if they can't find a ride.

Parents said their children would have to cross busy roads such as Route 42, which in some places doesn't have a sidewalk.

At a public meeting Tuesday, the accusations flew.

"Are you friend or foe?" one parent yelled.

"Who's getting this money? Who's stealing it?" another parent asked.

School district officials said their hands are tied. They said they have trimmed as much as they can from other programs and don't want to jeopardize the children's education.

Even though the decision has already been made, there is a public meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal building at 125 Virginia Avenue in Williamstown.

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