Junior Harsh Desai arrived in August, excited for his year ahead at Hammonton High School.

Desai, an exchange student from India, wants to join clubs and participate in as many activities as he can.

Traveling thousands of miles by plane to get here was relatively easy. Getting a ride home after a club meeting? Not so much.

“My host parents live in Hammonton, and they both work,” he explained. “If I stay after school for club meetings, I have to walk home.”

While sending districts such as  Atco and Waterford provide a late bus for its students, the Hammonton district does not provide one for its own residents. The only late bus currently provided is for Peer Tutoring students on Wednesday afternoons.  After-school athletes, club members, Student Council, and many others are left to find a ride (or wait around for one). 

One factor is that the Hammonton district manages its own bussing. District transportation supervisor Ms. Toni Mazza oversees this department.

“Hammonton busses transport roughly 2200 students daily,” she stated in a email. “We own 37  buses, with 32 being used for full time bus routes. We have 5 spare buses to use for after school sporting events or a break down.”

Funding is perhaps to blame for the issue.

Ms. Barbara Prettyman, the district business administrator, estimates that the cost of a late bus is $1900 for a bus to run 31 out of 40 weeks of school

For many students, high school is about trying new things, many of which take place after hours. But finding a ride home remains one more thing on top of a busy schedules, which is the case for junior Jesus Ramirez.

“It’s awkward constantly asking for rides home,” he said.

Dalton Chaney, a sophomore football player and track runner, explained that he can’t just get a ride with a friend.

“My parents don’t like me asking rides from people they don’t know,” he said.

For others, like sophomore Lauren Savage, it’s just a struggle to keep a constant ride schedule.

“I would use it every day; it’s an inconvenience not to have one,” she said.