My son is a new 7th grader at Central Junior High School in Bedford this year. At the end of sixth grade we were made aware that bus transportation would not be available if your child lived less than 2 miles from school. As a single mother, who works over 25 miles from home one direction, this caused alarm; and quite a bit of stress. Over the summer I contacted the district for possible alternatives, i.e. car pool groups, transport companies. To which I was met with a less than empathetic recitation of the busing policy. Forward to today, the second day of school, during school registration I was allowed to sign my son up for busing. According to mapquest we actually live 2.1 miles from the school. But today I receive a call from my 12 year old son advising that we live 1.5 miles according to district mapping, and he will have to find a way home. So I wasn’t contacted by an adult, I was told that he could ride the bus after school and arrangements would have to made going forward, no, I was left to be concerned for the welfare and safety for my son!. I am livid! I had to leave work early, because we hadn’t rehearsed the route and I am not comfortable that he knows exactly how to get home. In addition, when I called the district to complain I was met with an unaffected response to my dilemma. These transportation issues are not new. I was told they couldn’t give exceptions, but I wasn’t seeking exception, I understand the policy, what I was looking for was alternatives. I asked why they didn’t have a section on the registration paperwork where parents could give permission to be placed on a car pool registry. So that other parents could use that information to contact and form reliable and safe alternatives for their children. No I do not believe the district owes me or other taxpaying parents exception. But what I do believe, is that they owe us alternatives for the safety of our children. These are educators, I refuse to believe that they can’t collectively put their minds together and develop a better answer for the current state of affairs.
Concerned and disgusted,
Candice Kibsgaard
NOTE: LNO has contacted HEB and requested a response.
1 Comments
Stokes
At 10 years old I rode my bike to school by myself. Take your son to Wal Mart tonight and buy a bike. The exercise will do him some good. Problem solved.