Okay fellow C-netters I need some help! I am sooooo furious!! My daughter just turned 7 and she is in second grade. She has attended the same school for 3 years (headstart, 1st and 2nd grade). She has always taken the bus to and from school. I got a call today from the school notifying me that she can no longer ride the bus (starting tomorrow) as we live too close to the school. That she must now either walk to school or get a ride - because the cut off is 2 miles from the school. I was furious so I asked how can you expect a 7 yr old to walk to school? ANSWER-its too bad, I know, but the same goes for the children in kindergarten too. Here's the thing - we live 2.4 miles from the school however that is driving distance and the statute says... well here it is: A reasonable walking distance for any student who is not otherwise eligible for transportation pursuant to Section 236.083, Florida Statutes, is any distance not more than two (2) miles between the home and school or one and one-half (1 1/2) miles between the home and the assigned bus stop. Such distance shall be measured from the closest pedestrian entry point of the property where the student resides to the closest pedestrian entry point of the assigned school building or to the assigned bus stop. The pedestrian entry point of the residence shall be where private property meets the public right-of-way. The district shall determine the shortest pedestrian route whether or not it is accessible to motor vehicle traffic. Specific Authority 229.053(1), 234.01, 236.083 FS. Law Implemented 230.23(8), 230.33(10), 234.01, 236.083 FS. History - Amended 3-26-66, 9-17-72, Revised 7-20-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Formerly 6A-3.01, Amended 3-12-86, 11-15-94. The problem is with the last sentence. The way they figure it puts us just shy of 2 miles. I am even more upset due to the fact that the only way to get to school is via several very busy roads (45-55MPH speed limits) that do not have ANY side walks and very limited street lights. I live in a small town with lots of woods etc. School starts at 7:30 so it would still be quite dark. I really feel that this is a safety issue and no way would I allow her to walk 2 miles especially on these roads. How can they expect children to do this? I want this to be addressed but I have no idea who to complain to. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.
I am worried about kidnapping with children. Can you speak at the next meeting at the school board? Do you have a local parish council that you can go before and speak. Can you get a petition together and submit it to them? This is a very bad decision they seemed to have made. The minute a child is abducted, everyone will blame everyone else ;-( I don't have children, but I still wouldn't want any child to go through all that danger just to get to school. Until/if you can get the laws changed, you driving her to school is the ONLY way you will know she is safe. ;-)
I agree with Manequinne 100%. With so many child abductions lately, it's not even safe for children to play in their own yards anymore. There are probably other parents who have the same concerns you do...get together with them and let the school know that this is a safety issue. Good luck.
Go directly to the Superintendent of the school. If he is not willing to budge at all, go to transportation. If still you have a problem, go to the school board. It is always a good idea to participate in the school board anyway. We give our children to public schools for 1/2 of their waking hours. No one knows your child better than you do. Unvoiced opinions always go unheard. Best of luck to you. Please do not let your child walk that walk alone. If you have to walk with her (which does seem ridiculous that she has to walk from that far away) the exercise may be good for you too.
I'm too scared to even let my child take the school bus, so I give you credit!! She's in 1st grade now and we're just about like you are, very close, but certainly not close enough that I would let her walk. (And moving to the south from CA was a surprise, there are NO SIDEWALKS here anyway.) I'm ALWAYS going to drive her and pick her up until she's driving ME around! LOL! (I can't wait for that day!) Seriously, I just can't see taking ANY chances with my child. I've seen the way these school bus drivers drive in my own neighborhood, one almost came into my van head on one morning. There are fights on the news, stabbings, a lot of weather related crashes etc. I live in Knoxville TN, not the best, but by far not the worst. I would probably start with your schools principal or your schools super, then go up the chain of command and document everything. Maybe you CAN change something. Try your local news stations also or your local newspaper, they love those "parents are mad as heck" stories, and the more publicity, the more pressure you can bring on them. Good luck!
Hi, Thanks to all who has replied!! I have contacted everyone I could think of principal, super, Dept. of Trans., school bus dept., water company (about the standing water in the ditches), public works (about the lights & sidewalks) and finally the local news channel. (none of the bills have even passed yet for the sidewalks/lights and when and if they even do we are looking at 2005/2006 until completion - GEE THANKS my child will be at a different school by then Everyone I talked to referred me to someone else(all passing the buck). The news channel came out this morning and interviewed us and another childs parents. (it was on this evening news). After our interviews they went to the school then to the director of the dept of trans. and interviewed them as well. Basically they all agreed with us but cried about the budget and how there is just not enough money to cover it and how it would be eliminating money the school needs for other things. HA - shouldn't the childrens safety be a top priority??? BUT they have the budget to completely redesign the local sheriffs dept/tax building's landscaping with all new sod, trees, flowers, signs etc etc....not to mention all of the new landscaping around town. What really gets me is that there were roughly 14 children that that lost the bus however most of the bus stops were NOT eliminated at all just the children from riding it. I don't see how they do not have the budget to let an additional couple kids get on if the bus STILL stops there not to mention these buses are not even close to be full. So I feel as if I have hit a dead end here - is there anyone else to complain to?????? Thanks for listening!!
Would it be possible (and closer) for her to go to the closest stop to your house that they do stop at?
