'How Many Kids Ride the Bus, Anyway?'

When Lower Merion School District announced that it was looking for a place to park school buses, busing suddenly became a contentious issue in the district.

More than 100 people turned out Monday night to hear a bus parking presentation at the Board of School Directors meeting.

So how many kids ride the bus? More than 9,000 every day, which includes up to 7,817 to the district's 10 public schools; up to 2,638 to 84 non-public schools; and 64 students who are transported to 28 special-needs schools.

At issue is the fact that "buses will need to be removed from the LMHS campus during the summer of 2016 to make room for additional staff, student and visitor parking as required by Lower Merion Township regulations," acting superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille wrote last month in a letter to district families.

A commercial property on Bala Avenue was identified by the district as a possible spot to park the buses, but that idea raised significant concerns among Bala Cynwyd community members.

The district says the Bala Avenue property is ideal for a number of reasons, including 

• it is within Lower Merion School District;
• it's commercially zoned;
• it's the best location in relation to student populations;
• favorable security;
• and sufficient room for bus and car parking.