Back to school time. We are starting to feel the back to school crunch around here. The number one most frustrating topic that I want to talk about is Duval County Schools new bus schedule. For those of you who aren't local, please bear with me. Last year the maximum allowable distance for a child to walk to school was 1.5 miles. This year it is 2 miles. Two miles, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot school board? Two freaking miles???
My 11 year old will now have to walk (or ride a bike) carrying a bazillion pound book bag nearly 4 miles a day. Or...I can get six kids dressed, diaper bags packed, run my 5.9 liter engine to school and back home every morning and repeat same fun every afternoon. Of course, in the afternoon, I'll just be waking them up from their naps, not from their nightly rest. Or...I can trust my 11 year old (that so couldn't even manage to run into the grocery store for a gallon of milk while I waited in the car) to make the two mile trek there and the two mile trek back BY HIMSELF.
The economy is hitting everyone hard I hear. The schools as well, which is what necessitated this change. Somehow though, in the face of all this adversity, my children's elementary school managed to find the funds to repaint and refurbish. So, my little ones will be able to enjoy their awesome looking school while my 11 year tries to avoid all the cars, trucks, and pedophiles. Oh yeah, don't forget that this is Florida, so he'll be making that trip in 100 degree weather on most days and in the rain on the rest. Great flipping job Duval County School Board...what a way to prioritize!!!
Don't get me wrong, I understand that there is a need to cut corners and to trim extra spending. I just think that as long as we can still afford to repaint our schools, that we should cut corners that don't involve our children's safety first!
I wonder, can the patience to homeschool be purchased online? I am starting to fear that homeschooling will be our best option.
It's Finally Fall, Y'All
3 weeks ago
can you carpool with another family? we dont have busing so that's what we do. Find 4 other families in the neighborhood - each of you take one day a week.
ReplyDeleteThat one morning or afternoon that's your day, you get a babysitter for 20 minutes.
It's the only solution we've found.
The carpooling thing worked well for us, except that my vehicle can't accommodate other kids with all my brood in it so I had to have my kids ride without their car seats.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone nearby who might be willing to pick him up and drop him off in exchange for a few bucks a week?
Does he have a friend a quarter of a mile further away? Have him go to the friends house and hop on the bus ;) Yeah I know, won't work, it's just how my mind does. Seriously though, can't they have a bus stop that the kids could walk to or be driven to. There has to be a ton of kids affected in that half mile radius.
ReplyDelete