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Melbernai
I am a lucky Momma!
Member since 7/05 15652 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
We got a call mid-summer from the transportation dept informing us that Emily's bus was being changed. She is the only kid at the stop for 2 years now, in fact the only child in elementary school on our entire block. They felt another bus could service her so that her old bus wouldn't need to go on our block at all.
The catch was...she would either be the FIRST stop (morning and afternoon) and dropped off on the other side of the street =OR= be the last stop and dropped off right in front of our house.
She is in 2nd grade, and even last year in 1st grade, they would drop her off and just drive off, reguardless of whether or not I was out there to pick her up. We also live on a very busy road with a lot of through traffic and a lot of people blowing stop signs and stuff. So my DH and I discussed it and decided to have her be the last stop, so that we didn't need to cross the busy road, and in the event that I didn't make it out there in time, she was let out in our driveway.
Today was the first day of school. She got on the bus happily and excitedly. But when she came home she was hysterical...sobbing from the minute she came off the bus and she cried for a good 30 minutes.
For one thing, the bus passes our house going in the opposite direction and then does the entire route and loops back to us. So she saw me standing out there at 3:45 (bus ticket said she'd be dropped off at 3:50) and then didn't get dropped off at home until 4:20! That is a LONG time for a 6.5 year old to be sitting on a bus!
She didn't like being alone on the bus at ALL.
And apparently they "lost" a kid. She said at a bus stop a Mom wanted to know where her daughter was and everyone was looking for her and the mom was crying and they never found her.
I am sure that the lost child added to her tears, but she was just so hysterical.
I called the bus company at 4:40 after I got her to calm down a bit and left a message, and plan on calling back tomorrow. I want to see if we can brainstorm ideas and come up with a better solution to her bus ride then having her be the complete last stop.
But I also understand that they have strict schedules and the situation was probably worsened today because of it being the first day and all.
How would you procede in this situation if it were your child?
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Posted 9/4/12 10:32 PM  |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
Can she be the first stop across the street and you always be out there to get her?
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| Posted 9/4/12 10:44 PM |
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adeline27
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 3121 total posts
Name:
Angela
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Re: I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
I would see how it goes for the rest of the week...
I personally would much rather have front of house drop off. Timing I'm sure was way off 1st day of school and all. How horrible that other mom must have felt!
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| Posted 9/4/12 10:51 PM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
She will get used to being on the bus that long. My DS has been the last stop on the way home for the past two years (since kindergarten) and will again be the last stop this year. His drop off time varies based upon who else is on (or not on) the bus, but his trip home varies from 30 minutes to an extreme of 45-50 minutes.
I think the issue with the missing child probably made her very nervous. If she could sit right by the driver, it may not bother her so much being the last one on the bus.
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| Posted 9/4/12 11:09 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
I'd give it a full week and see how it goes. I'd also let the transportation company know that you are willing and to try it for longer but if she's getting home significantly later, you want to be able to switch.
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| Posted 9/5/12 5:35 AM |
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Melbernai
I am a lucky Momma!
Member since 7/05 15652 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
Posted by PrincessP
Can she be the first stop across the street and you always be out there to get her?
The thing is if we went with the across the street route, it's not just across the street. It is across the street and down the road. It's technically only 3 houses away, but we'd have to cross over 2 streets because of the spot where it is. Our road is very busy and this would also be about 60 feet away from a VERY busy intersection and I just do not feel comfortable with that. Even with me out there everyday...I'd be toting along a 5 month old, a 4 year old, and then Emily. In all kinds of weather conditions. And with her being the last stop, the time she gets dropped off can vary day to day. I just feel like it's too many variables.
I lost a lot of sleep over this last night. I am thinking of just going down to the transportation office with a map in hand, to try and work this out, rather then just continue calling the. The more I think about it, the more upset I am. Our bus situation was perfect for 2 years. They changed her route and stop becuase she was the only kid at the stop, but IMO her safety is just as important as if there were 10 kids at the stop!
Message edited 9/5/2012 6:35:04 AM.
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| Posted 9/5/12 6:16 AM |
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Re: I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
Can they put her on 2 different buses? They are doing that for DS. He is on one bus for pick up and another for drop off because we live on a double yellow line road elementary kids are only aloud at the drive way, so the door is always on our side.
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| Posted 9/5/12 8:22 AM |
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Melbernai
I am a lucky Momma!
Member since 7/05 15652 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
Well the bus was 10 minutes earlier this morning then it was yesterday! Still 10 minutes late, but at least 10 minutes earlier then yesterday! When it came and we checked the time, I reassured her that it was a good sign, and today should be much better then yesterday. And there was a window seat open so she was very excited about that. She got on the bus willingly and happily, even though she was nervous about it just a few minutes before.
I also spoke with the transportation coordinator this morning and explained the situation. She said that due to the high number of kindergarteners on the bus and the missing child situation (which she assured me that *they* knew where the child was at all times, just not the bus driver  ) the bus was very late yesterday. She said that won't happen all the time.
We agreed to give it until the end of the week and if, at that point, the bus situation hasn't improved, we will look over maps and routes and see what can be done to improve it!
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| Posted 9/5/12 10:50 AM |
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Reese1106
Family of 4! :o)
Member since 8/06 6655 total posts
Name:
Theresa
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Re: I don't know what to think about this (bus issues)
I'm sorry she was so upset. I can only imagine what was going through her head. I agree to see what happens this week and then work with them to make changes if need be. It's good they are willing to work with you to make changes if necessary.
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| Posted 9/5/12 10:59 AM |
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