School Superintendent Kevin Kanauss reads a statement about the school board’s controversial transportation plan, dropped after fierce public backlash.
Dozens of concerned residents attended the township board of education’s Aug. 20 meeting at Deptford Middle School to express concerns about the controversial school bus plan that the board introduced, then rescinded after community backlash.
The plan would have required students within a two-mile radius of their schools to walk to school. The proposal drew the ire of parents who feared for their children’s safety because their routes would require them to walk along major roadways without sidewalks.
School Superintendent Kevin Kanauss opened the meeting by reading a statement on the issue.
“This year,” he said, “our district has been compelled to spend over $3 million on budgeted funds for the 2023-’24 school year for additional transportation services. This includes $1.65 million in contracted bus services and $1.35 million dollars in loss for reimbursement for students transported within two to two-and-a-half miles distance from their school.”
Kanauss explained that the district has had to find funds to cover paving and other capital projects that were already budgeted for because of salary costs – for both existing and new staffers – and unfair labor practices related to inherited transportation lawsuits. The district budget, he added, has also been strained by the hire of 26 staffers for special education to meet student needs and comply with individual education programs (IEPs).
Meeting attendees voiced their opinions on the bus plan and also brought a number of major concerns to the attention of the board.
“The safety of our children cannot be overlooked,” said Deptford resident Brandon Monahan. “We’re in a school district with limited sidewalks and surrounded by busy streets and state roads where drivers often disregard the traffic laws.”
Some of the meeting attendees went as far as to allege that the board is corrupt and that Kanauss has accused people of stealing and mismanaging things in the transportation department. Speaking in his defense were former board of ed members Linda Rosser and Stacey Gray, both township natives whose kids went throught Deptford schools
“The reason I came tonight was to support Mr. Kanauss,” Gray remarked. “Mr. Kanauss is an outside-the-box thinker. Mr. Kanauss does not shoot from the hip. Mr. Kanauss loves this town. Mr. Kanauss is qualified – probably over-qualified at this point – and an excellent superintendent.
“I was embarrassed that people were posting that man’s private information on social media, where he lives,” she added of Kanauss. “Do better. That’s not who we are. That decision (on bus transportation) was dumb; our kids can’t walk that way. But get over the anger and take some of your own advice. Serving on the board, one, two people show up (at most meetings).
“So, if you’re here saying ‘communicate,’ do you want them to call and email all of you individually after every meeting?”
It was also alleged during the session that Mayor Paul Medany knew about the bus plan but lied about denying it, and that he was emailed in 2022 about issues with walking and a need for more crossing guards but ultimately ignored the missive, as did the township.
Medany was not in attendance at the meeting; the only council member present was Phil Schocklin, joined by Gloucester County Commissioner Chris Konawel, who also spoke.
“A lot of school districts are facing a budget crunch, and, unfortunately, that’s coming from Trenton,” he maintained. “What I urge everyone to do is take your anger out where it belongs. We have to hold our legislators accountable and I’m here to offer my part with the county, even though we don’t have purview over this.
“I will do my part to help every one of you.”
