Busing issues.....I need your support !!!

[Guest guest]

Good morning everyone,

My name is Nathalie . I am part of the Broward ESE Advisory Council.....but

today I am writing this email....as only a parent that wants our children to be

safe and treated fairly.

Some people about 1 month ago came forward on this list about issues that they

were having with busing.

I myself was to use the busing services.....but when I received my card bus and

the pick up time was 6:30 am and that I had to be outside 15 minutes

before......which means my daughter would have to get up at 5:15 am to be able

to be at school at 8:00 am. I couldn't do it. I was lucky this year and I was

able to say no...and I will just bring her to school.....but that wont solve the

problem that we are having with transportation. Even if my daughter loves to go

on the bus....and also that it makes a difference on her behavior at school

because it calms her before school...I had to give it up. Not everyone can do

this....and really....no one should have to give it up...to keep their child

safe.

Not long after I saw the issues that some parents were having because they

brought the issues on this list. I decided to do some research....and did find

out that there was laws about the time the children should be on the

bus......and those laws are not being applied.

For what I did hear....busing is an issue every year.....but this year it is

ridiculous, inhuman and not safe for our children. For the past month I have

been working on this.

Yesterday...I had the opportunity to have a conversation with our Interim

Superintendant....and brought up all the issues that I know parents are having.

I had with me a bus card that showed a pick up time at 5:00 am (that means that

this child have to get up at 4:00 am to get on the bus).

This is some of the issues that parents brought to me:

1 - child way too long on the bus....

2 - child being put on the wrong bus

3 - when trying to reach transportation because your child is 1 hour

late.....the personel is just picking up the phone..and hanging it up....

4 - the ESE transportation has changed this year.....they will at every child

IEP...review the transportation...and they might include the ESE child on a

regular gen Ed bus.

Which can be a great thing for some children...but not everyone. And if the

child is going on the general population bus...this child might need

accommodation to make this successful and safe. (Like....seating in the first 3

row. If it's not on a IEP....it might be a problem..)

If you have issues with busing, have question or had to " give it up " you can

contact me at (954)383-4028 or nathalie.adams@....

But the best way to help me with this cause is:

TO SHOW UP AT THE ESE ADVISORY MEETING ON OCTOBER 5th, 2011 at Piper High school

at 6:00 pm. This is the website of Broward ESE Advisory Council is

www.browardeseadvisory.com.

We are trying to get the head person of transportation to come to this

meeting...(this is not confirm yet.....I will get back with another

email....when it will be confirmed).

This meeting is coming soon...and I wanted to give an opportunity to everyone

that wants to come...to have time to make plan for it.

Thank you for your support,

Nathalie

P.S. I am probably reaching out mostly to the austism population...but if anyone

would share any other support list of group that i could contact...that would be

great....as this is affecting all ESE children.