The Wheels On The Bus

So you know how we're all in a recession and the economy is suffering and we are all feeling the effects in one way or another, a little, or a lot. That ripple effect is felt by all, even those too young to be currently employed who are experiencing their childhood years and becoming educated on the this great place we call America.

Zoom into Londonderry, NH, home to approximately 25,000 people, 620 +/- of which (including 2 of my shortlings) who attend one of the three elementary schools in town.

I pay my fair share of taxes, and a good percentage of those taxes go to our school district. So yes, I will take full advantage of those resources I support, and I gratefully put my kids on the bus most every day to go to school. Likewise, I rely on this same safe source of transportation to return them home.

Now where was I going with this? Oh yeah, the economy and budget cuts. Well, at least part of the recent turn of events surely have to involve budget cuts, although those higher up will surely disagree. The bus company with whom our town has a contract apparently doesn't employee enough people to drive our buses. So there have been some issues with getting students home from school and some drivers have had to double bus students, meaning that after completing one route, they would have to return to the school and do another route. The kids on the second route would get home much later than they otherwise would.

After a while, this tactic was, in fact, failing. It became obvious that an alternative solution needed to be considered and implemented. So it was decided that as long as there was a shortage of bus drivers, some of the routes needed to be combined permanently. Well, of course that's logical. Who wouldn't agree with that?

Two routes were eliminated and the routes of these two buses were dispersed between four other buses, one being ours. Because, you know, my life would be otherwise really ho hum and boring and I wouldn't have anything to write about.

Okay, some cool bus facts: The maximum capacity of a school bus is 83 students with them sitting 3 to a seat. That's probably OK for kindergartners, but kids, they grow, and by the time they are in 4th and 5th grade, some are nearly adult-sized. Don't forget, we live where there are 4 seasons, and around here, winter can be pretty darn long, so factor in heavy outerwear requirements during the majority of the school year, and sitting three to a seat can get pretty cozy uncomfortable. No doubt, the poor kids will be spilling out into the aisle, which is a huge no-no. They can't wear seat belts, but there had better not be even a foot in the aisle of the bus.

(Raise your hand if, when you grew up and took the bus to school, it exceeded the maximum number of students allowed and you stood in the aisle for the duration of the ride. Both of my hands are up.)

So! Guess how many kids are going to now potentially be riding my kids' bus with this change? Eighty! Doable? Umm, yes. Safe? Well, according to the bus company, it is. But if you ask a bus driver, you will get an emphatic and resounding NO. In fact, our bus driver has said that she will not continue driving if they implement this change. Well, my kids would jump up and down with joy (not on the bus, of course, because they know that is not allowed), as they are not her biggest fans, but one less bus driver only causes more issues on top of those they are trying to fix, so I'm betting they really don't want to lose anymore drivers.

Being a resourceful person and always striving to make anybody's business mine keep my thumb on the pulse of the town, because I like to think I know me some people, I called a friend who drives for this company. You want the straight facts, you have to go to the source, right? This friend used to fill in, meaning her route changed daily because she always filled in for somebody who was sick. But remember, the drivers have been quitting, so this year she has a permanent route and because she has a permanent route, she isn't in the office as much and as she stated, actually prefers it that way. So she didn't know anything and in fact, I knew more than she did.

We the parents are being told that they have had to combine routes because they don't have enough drivers. What they aren't telling us is that the buses will now be filled to their maximum capacity. Our bus driver feels this compromises their safety, and even if she wasn't driving a bus, wouldn't want her child put in that situation.

Now. What does this all mean for me? Well, nothing, really. I mean, does it mean I'll start driving my kids to and from school every day. Hell, no. Will they be uncomfortable? Possibly, but I don't think they will be in danger. Hopefully it will all work itself out to the best resolution.

Do you need a job? Do you love kids? I hear the bus company is hiring.

~ADDENDUM~
Well, enough parents apparently complained, because I received this email this afternoon from the school principal:

Dear Parents/Guardians:

We have removed the Fieldstone Drive addresses from Bus Route 29 and will revert to the schedule that has been in effect since the beginning of the year. Thanks for your flexilibity and understanding as we work to fix the bus situation.