Re: HELP! - school transportation issue

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/11/2002 9:44:43 AM Central Standard Time,

rtyows@... writes:

> My Brittany and the bus ride to school have always been more than

> horrible.

> 2. bus ride is horrible

>

Okay, my question to you is, if Brittany HATES to ride the bus, why have her

ride the bus? I have started to let my son ride the bus, but he LOVES to

ride the bus. If there ever comes a point where he doesn't want to ride it,

then he will NOT ride that bus. Is there some particular reason other than

living 15 minutes away from town that your kids need to ride the bus?

Having said that, regardless of whether your children will or will not ride

the bus anymore, the district must have a decent aid for the other kids.

That is their responsibility. If I were you, I would ride the bus with the

kids a couple of times to see what is going on. Chances are that the aid

will be on her best behavior, but she/he will most likely let something slip

to let you know what is truly going on, especially if you ride for several

days. Then, write everything down and go to the special ed director with

what you have witnessed.

Good luck!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/11/2002 4:04:19 PM Central Standard Time,

rtyows@... writes:

> dragging a 2.5 yr old special

> needs child along as well)

Nuff said!! I couldn't tell from your original post that you had more than

the 2 girls. I can imagine how frustrating all of that is--it is hard enough

with 1 special needs kiddo. I really didn't mean to sound snotty on my

original post. I was just trying to understand the situation. You'd be

surprised by the number of people who have said, " Well, because the school

said they have to ride the bus " or something equivalent. Sorry if I sounded

snotty.

Okay, another stupid question: (Remember, I am just trying to help.) Could

you find a friend or relative who could help you get the kids off to school

for just a day or so so that you could ride the bus with Brittany? Or why

not take the 2.5 year old on the bus with you? He/she might like the ride

with mom and help prepare him/her for when he/she starts school. Or since

you are going to have to take the girls to school, why not insist that the

district allow your son to ride a regular ed bus--I assume that he is in

regular ed. I think that is more than fair. Sounds like you could use the

help more than the money. Otherwise, if the district says it will pay you,

then definately take that money! Districts don't often agree to stuff like

that. Take them up on it before they change their mind!!!!

NOT SARCASTIC,

[Guest guest]

TRACY.....

> >

>

> Okay, my question to you is, if Brittany HATES to ride the bus, why have

her

> ride the bus? I have started to let my son ride the bus, but he LOVES to

> ride the bus. If there ever comes a point where he doesn't want to ride

it,

> then he will NOT ride that bus. Is there some particular reason other

than

> living 15 minutes away from town that your kids need to ride the bus?

that would be 15 miles out of town on an extremely narrow, winding , hilly

road. It takes about 20-25

minutes to get to town and then across town to her school, (then the

loading/unloading, and of course there is the dragging a 2.5 yr old special

needs child along as well) then we have to go to the other school. I never

ever MAKE her stay on the bus if when I put her on it she is screaming and

crying!! My husband takes them on his way to work on these mornings...but

of course then he is extremely late for work. The reason for the bus is

because we have 4 kids (that live here with us)...we have loaded the two

girls on the little special ed. van/bus so that they can get to school and

eat breakfast and get their day started. Then my husband gets the other one

ready and takes him to his school on his way to work (this one doesn't

always get breakfast, but there is no way some mornings to do everything...)

there is a 2.5 yr old who also has special needs that we have to deal with

as well..... you see, when you have this many kids, with this many special

needs you just have to do what ya can to try to deal with it all....but I

guess we will have to start trying to change the way we do things now that

we will be taking everyone to their school...and gee, next year the baby

will start his life in school and we will be having to go to another school,

which will make three different schools, get up even earlier, get a little

more organized... i don't know...

as far as riding with them there is just no way that this is possible....

as you see above, there are too many different levels here to deal with , no

way to get back home, (unless I wait for my husband to drag the baby all the

way to town and take his vehicle back, but then he would be stuck in town

without a vehicle and then there is the gas mileage to deal with and wear

and tear on the vehicle and tires, etc.)

Which brings me back to my original true question which was simply , can the

school really pay me mileage to take them to school...it will be 60 miles a

day (there and back twice a day). and of course I guess my baby will no

longer have the luxury of having a childhood since most of his life will now

be spent on the road! Especially when adding these trips in with twice a

week traveling 90 miles for therapy on them all and every other week going

on another 90 mile trip on Fridays as well to go get another child for

weekend visits.

They have never tried another AID...it makes no sense to say just because

this one didn't work out that another one wouldn't. But I don't want to

take that chance either. So I guess I will just have to suck up and do all

of the transportation myself and " get over it " . But BY Golly they are going

to have to pay for it!! (the district that is!)

thanks so much for your support by the way....(sarcasm here :-( btw)

Tina

[Guest guest]

don't forget, that if the school cannot provide adaquate services which

includes a safe bus ride they are required to contract with either a public

or private ( in this case the parents0 entity. However, if I were the

parent, i would be sure they pay for car usage at the IRS accepted rate of

..31/ mile, and for my time, of at least $30.00/ hour - and i bill in full

hour increments which includes having to get my other children ready,

loading everyone up, and the return trip home.

Of course, you could ask for inhome/community training to work w/ you

daughter not having such a hard time on the bus. This could include training

the aide. law requires ALL service personnel to be able to work w. the

child - that includes aides and bus drivers.

Good luck...and I am so tired of hearing of these small towns that think you

are horrible if you hold them accountable for implementing the law.

Re: HELP! - school transportation issue

In a message dated 2/11/2002 4:04:19 PM Central Standard Time,

rtyows@... writes:

> dragging a 2.5 yr old special

> needs child along as well)

Nuff said!! I couldn't tell from your original post that you had more than

the 2 girls. I can imagine how frustrating all of that is--it is hard

enough

with 1 special needs kiddo. I really didn't mean to sound snotty on my

original post. I was just trying to understand the situation. You'd be

surprised by the number of people who have said, " Well, because the school

said they have to ride the bus " or something equivalent. Sorry if I sounded

snotty.

Okay, another stupid question: (Remember, I am just trying to help.) Could

you find a friend or relative who could help you get the kids off to school

for just a day or so so that you could ride the bus with Brittany? Or why

not take the 2.5 year old on the bus with you? He/she might like the ride

with mom and help prepare him/her for when he/she starts school. Or since

you are going to have to take the girls to school, why not insist that the

district allow your son to ride a regular ed bus--I assume that he is in

regular ed. I think that is more than fair. Sounds like you could use the

help more than the money. Otherwise, if the district says it will pay you,

then definately take that money! Districts don't often agree to stuff like

that. Take them up on it before they change their mind!!!!

NOT SARCASTIC,

[Guest guest]

This whole issue touches all of us with non-verbal kids. Why can't the

school simply install a video camera on the bus and in the classroom? If

they are truly doing nothing wrong this should not be a problem.

Daycare's have this device why not tax payer funded education? Short of

that are you sure it's the aide that's the problem? Is she physically or

verbally abusive? Do you have proof? (video!) Could your daughter

perhaps be upset by the restraining device? Could you try using

something she's more comfortable with? What do you use in your car? Does

she kick,hit,spit ect at you when you drive? Is it the noise of the bus

that's upsetting her? Have you tried ear muffs like they use for

shooting a gun? Have you thought of sending a special book or toy or

comfort article to settle her or give her something to do? Twenty

minutes twice a day is a long time for a little girl who may have

sensory issues. Could you may be pick her up instead and work your way

up to 40 minutes a day? I understand your dilemma I have 3 kids 3

different schools and a little boy with lots of sensory issues. When he

was 3 it took several attempts just to get him to step on the bus. We

took it slow and built him up to back and forth to school. We used

books, his favorite car seat and choc soy milk and lots of

praise. We discovered the kids songs on the radio they used were making

him tantrum (they turned them off) and ear plugs helped with the other

noises. Good luck your doing a great job! Trina RR TX

Re: HELP! - school transportation issue

In a message dated 2/11/2002 4:04:19 PM Central Standard Time,

rtyows@... writes:

> dragging a 2.5 yr old special

> needs child along as well)

Nuff said!! I couldn't tell from your original post that you had more

than

the 2 girls. I can imagine how frustrating all of that is--it is hard

enough

with 1 special needs kiddo. I really didn't mean to sound snotty on my

original post. I was just trying to understand the situation. You'd be

surprised by the number of people who have said, " Well, because the

school

said they have to ride the bus " or something equivalent. Sorry if I

sounded

snotty.

Okay, another stupid question: (Remember, I am just trying to help.)

Could

you find a friend or relative who could help you get the kids off to

school

for just a day or so so that you could ride the bus with Brittany? Or

why

not take the 2.5 year old on the bus with you? He/she might like the

ride

with mom and help prepare him/her for when he/she starts school. Or

since

you are going to have to take the girls to school, why not insist that

the

district allow your son to ride a regular ed bus--I assume that he is in

regular ed. I think that is more than fair. Sounds like you could use

the

help more than the money. Otherwise, if the district says it will pay

you,

then definately take that money! Districts don't often agree to stuff

like

that. Take them up on it before they change their mind!!!!

NOT SARCASTIC,

[Guest guest]

Tina,

Yes, the district can contract with you to provide your own transportation.

They pay so many cents per mile (I think a fairly low amount, but that may

vary from district to district.

The reason they can't/don't/won't move the aid is that she could sue the

district over a change in her job if they move her without specific,

documented grounds to do so. Districts HATE being sued by their own

employees, but it isn't that uncommon. They are more terrified of that than

almost anything.

If you can provide some written documentation as to what is actually

happening on that bus, then they will have some legal grounds to move that

aid and get another one. But the risk to them of a lawsuit by an employee

versus just paying you to provide the transportation...well, common sense

obviously tells them to go with the easiest path, which is to pay you.

But, if you can provide some documented, written evidence that would enable

them to make that switch, then you could both get what you need.

Just a suggestion... (and not an easy one).

nna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/12/2002 9:39:29 AM Central Standard Time,

sherman.c@... writes:

> This whole issue touches all of us with non-verbal kids. Why can't the

> school simply install a video camera on the bus and in the classroom? If

> they are truly doing nothing wrong this should not be a problem.

>

Excellent point!!! Perhaps that is something we should all be fighting for in

our next ARD. Of course, you know what they will say, " That violates student

confidentiality. "

But I'll bet all of you, like I, have signed permission slips for your child

to be photographed and videotaped for other purposes.

[Guest guest]

Some districts (do not know ID or even if it was TX) already install

" camera boxes " on buses to record bus behavior/activities. Not all boxes

have cameras in them they are rotated throughout the system. These were

used to improve behavior on bus. There has been no outcry that I ever

heard about confidentiality - why not special ed buses too?

Jennie

whcmccain@... wrote:

> In a message dated 2/12/2002 9:39:29 AM Central Standard Time,

> sherman.c@... writes:

>

>

> > This whole issue touches all of us with non-verbal kids. Why can't

> the

> > school simply install a video camera on the bus and in the

> classroom? If

> > they are truly doing nothing wrong this should not be a problem.

> >

>

> Excellent point!!! Perhaps that is something we should all be fighting

> for in

> our next ARD. Of course, you know what they will say, " That violates

> student

> confidentiality. "

> But I'll bet all of you, like I, have signed permission slips for your

> child

> to be photographed and videotaped for other purposes.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Missed the beginning of this thread, so pardon me if I'm off base. Got the

impression this is a small town. Is there any other children on the bus

that can or will discuss what is going on? We had problems on the regular

Ed bus. Wasn't even aware of it until a neighbor's child called upset about

what was happening to our son. Just a thought,

Tonya

Re: HELP! - school transportation issue

Tina,

Yes, the district can contract with you to provide your own transportation.

They pay so many cents per mile (I think a fairly low amount, but that may

vary from district to district.

The reason they can't/don't/won't move the aid is that she could sue the

district over a change in her job if they move her without specific,

documented grounds to do so. Districts HATE being sued by their own

employees, but it isn't that uncommon. They are more terrified of that than

almost anything.

If you can provide some written documentation as to what is actually

happening on that bus, then they will have some legal grounds to move that

aid and get another one. But the risk to them of a lawsuit by an employee

versus just paying you to provide the transportation...well, common sense

obviously tells them to go with the easiest path, which is to pay you.

But, if you can provide some documented, written evidence that would enable

them to make that switch, then you could both get what you need.

Just a suggestion... (and not an easy one).

nna

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