The Galloway Township School District remains part of its Transportation Consortium, despite discussions earlier this year of possibly leaving due to increasing administrative fees, followed by two accidents involving school buses in April.

The Board of Education approved its transportation contract with the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District for the 2012-13 school year at its meeting Monday night, Sept. 17 at the middle school. The approval was for the route to Reeds Road School at a total cost of $8,400.

“We’re still actively deciding the best thing to do,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Annette Giaquinto said. “We’re looking at our options for next year.”

Giaquinto and Business Administrator Tim Kelley said the consortium has been responsive to getting ready, and there have been very few issues with busing during the 2012-13 school year to this point.

“There’s always an issue in the beginning of the year, and then you make adjustments,” Kelley said.

Last year’s discussion centered not only on escalation in fees, but also with children not being picked up in the morning on a consistent basis.

In April, there were two accidents in one week involving district school buses, one which saw 18 Smithville School children go to the hospital with minor injuries and the other involving Arthur Rann Elementary School students and a teacher from the same school.

Two discussions yielded no definitive response, and during those discussions, board members recognized finding a new bus company wouldn’t be easy. There was consideration of the district going out to bid for its own buses, but things remain status quo at this point.

The other districts in the consortium include the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District,

Hamilton Township, Absecon, Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, Port Republic and Green Bank.

The district reported an overall “positive and smooth opening” for the school year. Kelley has been handling transportation issues, and the new programs and mandates are being implemented with little problem, the district reported.

“Registration has continued and continued and continued,” Giaquinto said. “The district office has been a full house every day.”

A full report on school district enrollment is due at next Monday night’s meeting.