The opinions expressed below are strictly my own.
I have to say it is nice that school is out for the summer and the kids can relax for a bit. I know many a mom and dad who are just happy to have a break from making lunches for awhile. 🙂 This time of year is usually pretty upbeat, but this year there is a shadow hanging around. School bus boundaries. Toward the end of this school year I received an email informing me that Emily, my ten year old daughter, would not be eligible to ride the school bus this coming fall. In September Emily will be entering Grade Five and the boundary changes when you reach this grade. Not your age, but your grade is what determines your eligibility.
Now, I know that these boundary decisions are not made lightly and that some sort of criteria has to be in place because after all, it costs the school board money to bus our students, right? 🙁 Bah humbug I say! Money has to be a factor, granted, but what about the safety of our children? I have put forth this argument to the Officer in charge of Transportation with our School Board and the reply was that the board could not afford to run half empty buses. Now, just to back up a little bit, our school used to have three buses transporting our children and last year that was cut back to two. At the time there was a mad scramble to find kids who did not really need their assigned seat because there were many requests for a courtesy seat. Courtesy seats are assigned to kids who have a younger sibling riding the bus and then to kids who really have no other way to get to and/or from school.
So, the board decided that the third bus was not needed and they took it away. I have had a few chats with the school, who actually does not get any input in this decision and they have shared with me the misery that this caused and will cause again this fall. Great way to start a new year. 🙁
So, Emily can’t ride the bus and while the exercise from walking would be great, I am really not fussed on her walking along a very busy roadway OR through a large local park that is actually located below street level. Our options are limited. My child is ten and unfortunately in this day and age the streets are not safe for kids. She is not considered old enough to stay home alone or old enough to babysit her little brother alone, but the School Board thinks she is old enough to walk home alone. On top of that my son will be starting Junior Kindergarten this fall and yay, he is eligible to ride the bus. Alone. So, when the day ends one child will get on the bus and the other has to watch it drive away, then make a long journey on her own. I am sorry, but this is just not acceptable.
When I shared this information with the Transportation Officer at the School Board she told me that it was the parents responsibility to get their kids to and from school each day. My retort; “So why are buses provided in the first place?” She didn’t have an answer for me. The bottom line as I see it is this: we pay taxes and have directed our education portion to the Catholic School Board that we are a part of. We are helping to fund those buses, along with everyone else. Both of my children should be allowed to ride the bus until they are old enough to stay home alone. Even that age (12 years) I am not comfortable with, but it can be worked with. I am not done fighting this darn rule. Maybe by the time William is in Grade Five things will have changed. God help me… 🙁
So tell me, do you agree that the age limit is too low for when kids are NOT allowed to take the school bus? Do you think it should be raised? I would love to hear your two cents worth….
FT&PD
Suz
Well said Suzanne!!! As you know, we are in the same boat with Sydney! It’s ridiculous!! If you need another voice behind you….count me in! Thank You!
Thanks Brenda 🙂 The whole situation is making me ill 🙁 I am contacting our trustee next. The school board was no help, just very patronizing. I will definitely count you in!!
Suz
That’s such a shame that the budget determines these things. When it comes to my child’s safety, I believe no expense should be spared. Does distance from school enter this equation at all? I live only a block from our elementary school, but my children will have to take the bus once they move up to middle school here. I can’t imagine what would happen if the school notified us that buses would no longer be provided.
And in your case, with one being allowed to take the bus and the other denied??? That’s just wrong. I hope something can be done! good luck!
Thank you for your support and comments James, I appreciate it. I feel the same way about cost. I have even suggested to the board that they charge a monthly fee for those who are ineligible. I would gladly pay to keep my kids safe. There are many others in my position so we will take this to the next level, the school trustee and pray they can do something about it. 🙁 Thanks for chiming in!
Suz
I am so sad that you are having to go through this-it totally makes no sense at all! I would get the parents together-parents have a voice!
Thank you Gayle 🙁 I have talked with some parents and today I talked with the Board again. I am filing an appeal this week and calling the Trustee. Something has to give!
Suz
It has been over 10 years since I worked at the CCAS, but at that time the Child Welfare Legislation stipulated that at no time can a child of 10 years, or under, be left unsupervised. Suddenly now a child of that age is able to be totally on their own on both main streets and side streets in a busy community? We all know what has happened to other children who walked home alone from school. Suz, just how far would that be? One mile? A mile and a half? I think it is quite far for a 10 year old. Good luck with your attempt to have the School Board see your point of view, Suz! I support you!
Thank you for your support Gem 🙂 It has been a pain to get through to these people and I have my doubts about getting it fixed in time for school to start, but I am not giving up!
Suz
I feel your pain! I went through the same thing here when my oldest was going into Grade 4. My son was going to have to walk, and my daughter was riding the bus. I kept pushing and then finally told my school that I was considering having my son switch to the public elementary school that was closer to my house and would be a safer walk. The Catholic school board quickly gave us “special permission” to have him take the bus. In these days of declining enrollment the school boards do not want to loose any students. (or potential funding as each child equals funding to the school boards)
Wow, I am surprised they made the “exception” for you guys MaryBeth. I have not suggested that we might change schools, yet, but I am not sure they would even care. Our school is small, but with them taking away a bus last year and all the problems it caused I think the school would be happy with fewer students to deal with. But having said that you are right about declining numbers and if the Catholic board wants to retain them they need to wake up. I will keep ya’all posted!
Suz
Always great to have a place to let everyone know our Two Cents worth – come and check out my challenge at “acrossthebored”- there’s always room for more!
Yup, we need to vent somehow! Thanks for sharing your Two Cents Tuesday Challenge. I have followed your blog and will definitely be checking it out! I am just removing your link from the comment cause of the silly little Google issues, but I appreciate the share! Thanks for stopping by!
Suz
Google issues?
There is an article ( actually more then one) that I read called “Why Google thinks your blog comment is spam”. You should check it out. It basically refers to links left in comments that cause Google to downgrade your ranking or even de-list your site. It was pretty interesting and generated a lot of discussion in one of my blog groups. If I want to lead someone to an article now I type it out, without the link park.
I do not want people to think I do not appreciate what the share, because I really do, so if you can add things without the link I would appreciate it!
Suz
Concerning the articles that you mentioned regarding Google downgrading rankings this refers specifically to paid links and not to links back to blogs. If this was the case then WordPress would not be able to conduct business – have a look at the amount of links on their challenge pages – nor would the thousands of bloggers who hold their own challenges, highlight the work of others, reposting and link to music, iTunes, etc. be possible. It is true that there are many discussions going on about this, but it is a very specific form of link….
Thank you for clearing that up!! My skills are limited to my fantastic writing ( and my exemplary sarcasm 🙂 ) so I tend to rely on what I hear from others who appear to have more experience then I. I will dig a little deeper next time. I do appreciate the help though 🙂
Thank you, Suz
Anytime!
🙂
Would love to have an update on how it turned out. I totally agree with you about the age limitations. They should be raised, what else do your school taxes go to?!
So how did it all work out in the end !
When it comes to my child’s or any childs safety everything should be done to ensure they are out of harms way.They are our future may nothing come in the way of their safety