Drama on Day 2

I'm so ticked with the busing situation...here's an email I sent to the Assistant Superintendent this morning...after I got off the phone with the guy in charge of transportation. He was ridiculous...and didn't like when I asked whom else I could talk to about the situation. He said, "there is no one else to talk to," to which I replied, "There is always someone else to talk to." It was a frustrating phone call! Of course, our less-than-smooth morning didn't help things. (And no, the letter I sent did not have a bunch of blank lines throughout.)

Dear Mr. Greene -
I am writing to you right now, instead of calling, because my emotions are running extremely high. I just got off the phone with David Leigh at the bus garage and it was not a pleasant conversation. I realize that he is just doing his job, but the ridiculousness of this situation galls me. We have lived at _____ ________Lane for nearly 5 years. We currently have 4 children riding the bus to various schools. We have two kids at the______, one at ______ and one at _____. We have a fifth child who will be riding the bus in a few short years as well. For the past 4+ years, the bus has picked up our kids at the end of the driveway. This year, however, Mr. Leigh says it is impossible for the bus to pick up my kids here. He said that he was forced to take pick up stops away and they he is not allowed to add additional stops to the routes.

I don't know if you are aware, but ________is a cul-de-sac. We are the first house in the cul-de-sac. Legally, the bus has to stop at the stop sign on the corner of _____ and ______. It has to wait there until traffic is clear before turning onto _____ Road -- either left or right. I am simply asking that when the buses stop, as they legally have to do, that the driver opens the doors long enough for my children to get on. It's really that simple. I'm not asking for the driver to wait if my kids aren't out there. I'm not asking for lots of additional stops to be added to the route. I'm simply asking for what has always been…and for what makes the most sense from a time and effiiciency standpoint. It makes zero sense for my kids to walk all the way down to the end of the cul-de-sac, only to have the bus stop in front of our house anyway. Tell me how efficient that is? It would not add significant time to the bus routes and it would hardly be an inconvenience to the drivers. I've already spoken with 2 out of 3 of them and they agree that it would make a great deal of sense to pick up my kids at the corner of _______ and _______ -- rather than all the way at the end of the street.

I realize that there are time and money constraints plaguing __________ schools and everything associated with the school system. However, it's not like I live 5 houses down from the corner and am asking for the drivers to pick up my kids in a special spot. I'm simply asking that they open the doors when they are legally stopped in the first place.

Again, I realize that Mr. Leigh's job is stressful, particularly so these first few weeks of school. But being a parent, of many children who all attend different schools, is no walk in the park either. To be told over and over again that no concessions will be made, that it will not be possible to have the driver's open the doors long enough for my kids to get on…in a place where they've gotten on for the past 4+ years, is extremely frustrating. In light of today's economic situations and the desperate needs we have in our community and our schools, it would make sense for us all to try to work together to find viable solutions.

I appreciate your time and I look forward to speaking with you concerning this matter.

Sincerely,

Tacie Kerr