Turn To Tara: District reneges on busing promise for daughter of ill firefighter

<p>A terminally ill firefighter from Rockland County is demanding answers and an apology after a school district reneged on its promise to provide his daughter with a bus ride.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 17, 2017, 9:02 PM

Updated 2,380 days ago

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A terminally ill firefighter from Rockland County is demanding answers and an apology after a school district reneged on its promise to provide his daughter with a bus ride.        
New City firefighter Alan Handsman has multiple myeloma. His wife, Tara, says the doctor visits are nonstop, so driving their children to school each day is just not an option. But it may have to be soon.
The couple Turned To Tara after a busing blunder by the Clarkstown School District that could force their 14-year-old daughter to walk home each day more than a mile down dangerous terrain.

The problem began with a zoning mistake back in March that left Jade Handsman choosing between Clarkstown's two high schools. She picked North, even though she lives 1,000 feet outside the busing zone, based on a promise from Superintendent Martin Cox.
The family received a formal bus pass a few days before school, but they received an email Friday that there was an error when they were informed about the busing approval.

Jade's last day on the bus was Friday. The Turn to Tara crew was told by security to leave when they went asking for answers.
The Handsmans are now consulting with lawyers, and the topic could come up at the next Board of Education meeting.


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