In the district-bus company discussions, the route was modified, with two children moved to another bus, and on Monday Fisher’s daughter’s ride was 10 minutes shorter. He is hoping for a trip that is no longer than an hour. State education law has no mandated maximum length of a bus ride, but according to the State Education Department, a 1½-hour trip isn’t unreasonable, depending on the situation.

“We want what is best for all the kids,” said Fisher, speaking for a number of parents with children who attend yeshivas. He also advocates “reverse busing” for some of the longer routes: The first children on the bus in the morning would be the first dropped off on the way home.

Reverse busing is used in the Hewlett-Woodmere district, which also contracts with Independent Coach. Joe DiBartolo, Hewlett-Woodmere’s business administrator, who oversees the district’s transportation system, said that the district, which transports 2,500 students to 90 schools on 250 different routes, uses reverse busing only when “it is the most efficient way and makes sense.” Schall said that reversing a route is a legitimate request, but it would have to be analyzed.

Michael Fabrizio, vice president of Independent Coach, said that everything is being reviewed and adjustments are being made to ensure that bus runs proceed more smoothly the rest of the school year. “It’s complex. It’s not your typical school district,” Fabrizio said of Lawrence and its volume of students and routes. “We saw where the problems were, and we’re ironing them out.”

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