Auburn MA Public School Bus Fee - Update pg 13 #184

[katieandallycat]

I'm assuming that your daughter has an IEP. If transportation is listed in the IEP, they must provide it.

Good point! However, when we sat down, we were told last fall, that transportation wouldn't be include for 07-08.

Actually we are fine with this. #1 because she was on the bus, we really didn't get to know the other kids/parents, to possibly do a playdate (she really needs to work on social skills), #2 it is right off the highway, so faster for me to get to work (last year, once she is dropped off, I get stuck in traffic, because I don't have a carpool). # 3 I work as a nanny during the week, so I have to drop the kids off after I pick her up (17 miles away). The afternoon bus, is 35 mins after she gets out, so we get stuck in commuter traffic (which starts around 3) #4 she fights going on the bus, because most of the kids on the bus are special ed and are still in the don't know how to talk phase.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

So I contacted the local paper via email (on Wed.) outlining the whole situation. They responded in 2 hours!!! I got a letter back from the Editor asking me some questions. I had held off responding to the paper figuring I would give the superintendent time to be notified of my issues and call me back. Yesterday, no phone call by 3:45PM so I called and noone was in the office at all (I thought school hours per the machine say 4:00PM but ok they left early. I left a voice mail in his box explaining who I was, short msg about the situation, and that I wanted a phone call back to discuss it. No call back by late AM today, so I called again - he was unavailable at the time but secretary states he was informed and that they are standing by the no $ no bus pass ruling. I asked why would the decision be different from last year and the response was - different superintendent different rules. I left another voice mail, faxed a letter to his office, and requested again a call back from HIM! Called at 2:30PM and he has left for the weekend again what I thought school hours were till 4:00? The secretary states again we will not be getting the pass unless we pay. I apologize for her getting the brunt of my anger and ask why is it so hard to expect a callback from the superintendent regardless of his decision. I had left multiple msgs requesting HE call me back and I have not gotten any phone call from even a secretary with a decision, he is looking into it, nothing. It is just left hanging till I am so ticked off I call PO'ed. She further told me that records were not properly kept last year with the whole pay for bussing situation and while they do see we did not pay for bussing last year there is no indication as to why we did not pay and that is 1 of the reasons last years superintendent is no longer with us this year. I explained to her that regardless of the problems they had with last years superintendent, she represented the school system and made a decision. Regardless of the new superintendants feelings on the situation, a decision was already made and they should abide by that decision. You cannot change the rules of the game in the 5th inning because you don't like how the game is going. Unfortunately I did not keep my emails from the superintendant last year as I thought that the school system would have record of the fact that #1 we did not pay and #2 they did give us a bus pass and my son rode the bus. This was my BIG MISTAKE! So I have emailed back the paper with an update. I have left another message for the superintendant with the secratary this time instead of on voice mail outlining my feelings on the situation. I was calm, cool, and collected on this phone call and stated obvious facts.

I am not even arguing the distance here at this point, my arguement is we had this debate last year and the school system rendered a decision. We were told that as long as residence status does not change nor school location that we were all set. So because of staffing issues and bad record keeping we pay the price? I don't think so!

 

[jennybobenny]

We live just north of Boston and the price for 1 child to ride the school bus is $762 per year. So far they've sold only 4 passes.
As for the OP....new superintendent = new rules. And unfortunately it doesn't sound like your new super has an open-door policy.

 

[TheRatPack]

My papa (75 years old) used to have to ride and pay for public bussing to his high school which was about 30-45 minutes away and then had to walk another 20 minutes from the public bus stop.

While I realize this isn't the same thing...it seems that the school systems are getting to a point where they are trying to lessen the dependency on the bussing systems because of gas/maint. cost every year. I know that when my kids went to public school there were 6 busses plus 3 handicap busses just for the elementary (and there are 4 elementary schools within a 20 mile radius...so times that by 9 busses per school. Then we had 2 middle schools in that same span and at my son's old middle school there were 18 busses...yes 18! Plus about 4 handicap busses. Again..multiply all that and you see how much the school spends on gas/maint./drivers...etc.

It got so bad that they were charging per student for field trips so the trips started getting cancelled...etc. and everything was too centered around money. Truancy was centered around money because they lost so much per day if you're kids were out, they begged for you to fill out those lunch forms...even if you didn't qualify...because they get so much funding based on numbers...etc.

It's a sad state that public schools are in, but then again....think of just 20-30 years ago when many people didn't get to finish anything past the 8th grade due to bussing, not enough schools in rural areas...etc. While I've read a few of these post that quote close to 800.00 for bussing...which is CRAZY! I almost understand 100.00 a year per student...etc since gas is so expensive, just glad I don't have to deal with public school at all!

I hope your situation works out....odd that they changed rules on you...especially since you haven't moved.

edited to add: oh and those busses at the elementary schools (9 busses times 4 schools) were all different busses. The busses that could, would drop off the elementary kids in 45 minutes and then head to the middle schools to load those children. But in our county all the elementary schools get out at the same time so there was no bus sharing/staggering times. And in total we have 10 elementary schools just in our county.

 

[bluedoggy]

Although I grew up in a City that did (and still does) provide bussing for all children in the public schools and no additional charge ( they even had our DD -when she was in Elem. School on a bus route even though we were 3 blocks from school and she walked. (although Taxes are high), the City we live in and the one that our DD, DSiL & DGrD just moved to, do not provide bussing for anyone. IT is the responsibility of the parents to either drive the children to and from school, figure out a car-pool, or let them walk. We are in WIS - and walking 3/4 of a mile for a young elementary school child is difficult in the winter. Our DGrD starts kindergarten in 2 weeks, and my DD & DSiL will be driving her to school. It is difficult for parents that work longer hours than school, but I guess somehow they make it work. As expenses continue to rise, the districts are continually looking for revenue sources to help bridge the gap. Welcome to the world we live in........

 

[goalie5hole]

Mass schools are going downhill. My kids are going to private schools this year, it's going to be tight. How about the town fire department stop buying Expeditions, it seems every town has one. They don't need those expensive vehicles. Or how about taking some money out of sports, busses are more important. If you want to play sports then pay for it.

 

[jessica52877]

If there were sidewalks and crossing guards then i would be fine with walking with my son to school. Since that is not the case then I feel that buses should be provided, the school (elementary) isn't even in the same city that we live in! There are others in this city, but the way it is divided we go to one in a different city. I don't think expecting a child to walk to a different city and over 3 miles is right.

I do think I would be arguing the mileage and not last years decision though.

 

[cats mom]

I wish I had seen a thread like this a month or so ago!
I might have picked the house directly behind the elementary school instead of the one 2.5 miles away.
I had never heard of paying for bussing, so that didn't even play into my decision.
It should have.

1st child pays $400.00
2nd child pays $380.00
3rd child pays $340.00

Then if your child participates in a sport or activity of any kind in middle/high school they are hit with yet another bus fee for that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I asked why would the decision be different from last year and the response was - different superintendent different rules

Yep. Obviously this superindendent has proven that not only is the world getting technologically smaller, it's getting physically smaller. Two miles last year is less than two miles this year. By the time your child graduates, the distance from your house to the school will be twenty five feet.

 

[NVDisMom]

This bussing thing is rediculous. The schools complain b/c of the traffic jam before and after school. And they wonder why its so darned crowded. Its less expensive to provide your own transportation.

Why doesn't the EPA or some environmental group grant money seperately to the schools for bussing. Public transportation is always being highlghted as a wonderful way to decrease our individual impact on the environment. You'd think they'd be jumping on that band wagon full bore! Or the Dept of transportation include in their physcal budgets some assistance to school bussing programs. I'm sure the school bus is easier on the roads (and therefore maintenance costs) than all of the personal vehicles going to and fro shuttling the children around.

 

[katieandallycat]

actually $100 really doesn't sound that bad to me. If you break it down, that's $10 a month or with 180 days of school=1.80 per day, .90 per ride.

Remember the raising cost of gas and maintance and budget cuts. Would rather pay for the bus, then have the something like the music program cut out.

Of course the more kids you have to higher the expense.

I would work on setting up a carpool.

I agree with a previous poster, try and argue the miles, not what was done in the past. You don't want to start off the year on the bad side of a superendent.

 

[Forevryoung]

Mass schools are going downhill. My kids are going to private schools this year, it's going to be tight. How about the town fire department stop buying Expeditions, it seems every town has one. They don't need those expensive vehicles. Or how about taking some money out of sports, busses are more important. If you want to play sports then pay for it.

Need to respond to this as I used to volunteer with a Fire Department (until 4 weeks ago).

Expeditions are one of the most popular vehicles in fire departments because Ford gives a HUGE "discount" (offered to governement agencies at much lower prices) to purchase them making them much more affordable than other 4 wheel drive SUV type vehicles.

Back to your regularly scheduled topic

 

[Tess'smom]

I am really interested in this. Do you pay less in taxes? I am paying $16,000 a year in taxes so I think that is why the bus is covered. But are you also paying big taxes and still having to pay?

 

[HeatherC]

Hi neighbor....(we are in Charlton). I can imagine how mad you must be.

We are fighting for the bus to make one stop in our neighborhood for the middle schoolers and are getting the runaround. Here the bus comes into our development and picks up the elementary students, but makes the middle schoolers walk to a bus stop, that while not far, is hidden in view from any of the houses. With 2 sex offenders living pretty close by, we feel that it would make sense for the bus to make one extra stop for safety. They tell us (14 neighbors and ourselves) that it costs too much to do this with all the other bus stops along the route.

But here's the kicker...there are no set stops. The bus driver stops at every other kids house...even if the driveways are 5 feet apart. Ridiculous. If they combined a few stops, they could do this without adding time or costing money. But that would make too much sense.

While I love our schools...these ridiculous rules drive me crazy!!! So....I totally feel your pain and am rooting for you. Best of luck to you and don't give up. After all....it's our money paying for these services.

HeatherC

 

[Iluvthemouse]

OP I totally hope you get some resolution to this.

We dont have to pay anything for DDs' bus. We live 7.5 miles from the school. Our taxes are about $800 a year here. Very cheap compared to others. I did read some published salary reports the other day
Elementary school principals--public schools- approx $96,000 yr
Superintendents-----$150,000

Middle and High school principals--inbetween elementary and supers.

Ridiculous personally when the teachers have to buy their own supplies.

 

[mtblujeans]

...I am not even arguing the distance here at this point, my arguement is we had this debate last year and the school system rendered a decision. We were told that as long as residence status does not change nor school location that we were all set. So because of staffing issues and bad record keeping we pay the price? I don't think so!

I am sorry, sweetie, but I am going to disagree with you. You should argue the distance. IMHO, you are in a no-win situation if you argue on the basis that the Super, last year, seemed to have made an arbitrary decision on your behalf. But, the distance hasn't changed and, if you draw attention to that, you can't lose. If the school district is going by the measurements of an on-line mapping service that is in error and it can be proven by actual distance-measuring that you qualify for the bus system, you will win and the current administration will not be able to deny you that service.

 

[goalie5hole]

Need to respond to this as I used to volunteer with a Fire Department (until 4 weeks ago).

Expeditions are one of the most popular vehicles in fire departments because Ford gives a HUGE "discount" (offered to governement agencies at much lower prices) to purchase them making them much more affordable than other 4 wheel drive SUV type vehicles.

Back to your regularly scheduled topic

I don't care if there is a huge discount. They don't need a gas guzzling SUV. If they get a discount from Ford then why not an Escort or whatever the compact is?

 

[LadyBears]

I have never heard of paying for busses until this year. A town not far from me just started charging $300.00 per student per semester!! That is $1200.00 per year per student!

I don't live in the town, so I haven't paid major attention to details, but I think that is rediculous!! Also,what happens when you have more than one child?? Do they get a "break"???

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I have never heard of paying for busses until this year. A town not far from me just started charging $300.00 per student per semester!! That is $1200.00 per year per student!

I don't live in the town, so I haven't paid major attention to details, but I think that is rediculous!! Also,what happens when you have more than one child?? Do they get a "break"???

Yes but usually the break is only $20-$30 or so and then a cap off per family which is generally around the 3 or 3.5 children mark.

 

[Straycat]

Is there any type of company that could measure the distance between you and the school so that you could back your distance claim officially?


I'm wondering what happens to the kids whose parents can't afford the bus fee.