bus transportation services

August 14, 2005

Hi,

I'm in Humble ISD in Kingwood (Houston area) and am looking for some

input regarding what other people are experiencing with bus

transportation for their special needs kids. My son is seven and has

PDD-NOS. He is mainstreamed in to a regular education second grade

classroom this year with an aide. The bus is scheduled to pick him

up at my house at 7:00 a.m. and school starts at 8:00 a.m. Another

mom that has a special needs kid scheduled to ride the same bus has

been told her son will be picked up between 7:50 a.m. and 7:55 a.m.

She lives at least ten minutes away from the school that both of our

sons attend. There is no possible way they will be able to get our

kids to school on time so that they can get off the bus at get to

their classrooms with the rest of their typically developing peers.

Plus, we don't even know yet if her house is the last stop. Last

year they picked up one more child after her son.

We've experienced problems off and on with the issue of our son

getting to school late last school year. It was upsetting for him

and disruptive for his class and teacher. We complained and the

school staff complained, but nothing changed.

The school handbook suggests that all students be at school by 7:50

a.m. to allow them time to proceed to their classrooms, unpack and

begin the school day promptly at 8:00 a.m. Typically developing

children that ride the bus to this school spend no more than 20

minutes on the bus and arrive at school prior to 8:00 a.m.

So, I have two questions --

Is it fair, equal or appropriate to arrange the special needs bus

transportation in such a manner as to not even attempt to get the

kids to school on time?

Is it fair, equal or appropraite to require a special needs kid to

ride the bus for an hour (and not get to school on time) when typical

peers only have to ride for 20 minutes?

And, one more thing...since my son is the first pick-up in the

morning, wouldn't it make sense that he would be the first to be

dropped off at home in the afternoon? Well, he is the last to be

dropped off. Therefore, his school day starts at 7:00 a.m. and lasts

until 4:00 p.m.

Any thoughts will be appreciated!

Thanks,

Amy McIntee

Mom to Bryce (age 7) and Riley (age 11)

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