My three year old attends the local special ed preschool for a severe language delay. It's been wonderful...he's doing great. They spent last year rebuilding the school...knocked the old school down during the summer...and now have a really nice facility. That being said...whoever designed parking/drop off/pick up...I don't know what they were thinking!? If the busses are there (which they are for a good 20 minutes before school starts...parents can't use the parking lot to the preschool because we become 'blocked in' by the buses. There is only one exit and they don't want cars passing the buses while kids are getting off. I totally understand that...I'm all for safety. But, we have been told we need to park on a side street and walk. I have a just barely 1 year old...when it gets really cold and snowy in the winter time...I am NOT looking forward to having to unload him! At this point, my other option is to have him actually ride the bus. We moved over the summer. Before moving, we were at the end of the bus route in the morning, and the beginning of it coming home...so he was always only on the bus for about 5-10 minutes. Now, even tho' we're only about 3/4 of a mile away from our old home...we are at the very beginning of the route...and he would be on the bus for 45-50 minutes. I didn't sign him up to ride the bus because in addition to having to wake him up WAY earlier...I just don't like him being on the bus that long. He's been begging to ride the bus every day since school started this year...it was one of the highlights for him last year. I can handle 10 minutes...I don't know about 45. I may be a little biased as well. The only time I rode the bus was as a freshman in high school and the language was bad...the kids were generally rough and rude...but then..I was a freshman in high school...not a three year old...but I do worry about what influences he'll face on there :(. I know I can't shield him forever...but he's 3...I still reserve the right to shield! They do have an aide on each bus that assists the bus driver and sits with the kids and makes sure they're behaving...maybe I'm just worrying too much? Anyway...I'll stop rambling...what are your thoughts??
(I'm also toying with the thought of calling the school and asking if I can park in with the buses, drop him off (the teachers are all out on the curb in front of the school...I can leave my 1 year old in the car...walk the 5-10 yards to the curb...and walk back...he has no separation problems...it's a quickie), and than just wait in the parking lot until the buses leave...I don't care if I'm blocked in at that point...I've been using my mornings to do schoolwork - I'm finishing my bachelors degree...I can do that in the car while I wait 5-10 minutes)
**Update: It is only preschool kids on the bus...probably pretty tame :). I don't know if I'd be breaking/bending rules...I'd have to check...I agree...I wouldn't want to do that...the rule is that cars can't pass the buses while kids are loading and unloading...and there's only one exit...if I enter, and stay till the buses are gone...I wouldn't be 'passing' them...which is the concern. It's a good sized parking lot with plenty of open spots at this point...several of the teachers park there because they don't have to leave (obviously) until after the buses do. Majority of the kids ride the bus. I'm also a few minutes late...maybe that's why I only see a small handful of other moms having to do what I do (I have to drop 2 other children off at a different school...and I can't drop them off too early). Anyway... I'll check :p.
So...the bus just came...I figured I'd try it...like some of you suggested...I loved his bus driver last year...the sweetest older man...always so excited to see Gage...handed out treats to all his little preschoolers on the last day of school last year...really made it a positive experience...I assumed since we'd moved (and there's a good half a dozen or so buses that pick up the preschoolers)...that he'd have a different bus driver :/...Lo and behold it's the same guy! I had one excited little man this morning...'Steve the bus driver' remembered my son...smiles all around...it's still a longer ride...but Steve said they're actually one of the first ones to get to the school...so it'll be 35-40 minutes. Anyway...thanks for all the suggestions. I may still see what I can do to get something changed...partially for the other parents...and also because at this point, I'm still scheduled to pick my son up...and will have to go through the whole process again (although now that I know the bus driver...I may toy with the thought of him taking the bus home as well...we'll see :)).
If it is just preschool on the bus and they have an aide AND he wants to ride. Let him try it out for a little bit. You could always change him back.
I agree with your thought of calling the preschool to see if you can just join the bus line.
Also, I believe if you respectfully (again) explain to them the frustration with the preschool pick up/drop off and ask them to kindly revisit the process to see if there is a way everyone could be happy - you'd be forever grateful.
if you have the time, even offer to sit on the "committee" or task force to review the issue:)
good luck!
Even though it's only little kids, that's a long ride. It was a long ride for me when I was in HS and had a similar commute.
Even if you put him on the bus, consider speaking to the principal or the PTA or whoever about the problems with the parking. When my SS's HS was redone, they put in this long backwards (you go around the building to the right, not the left) road that everyone now has to use to go around the building and there is no alternate exit. It's hideous. Sometimes I don't know what the heck these designers are thinking.
That is a long bus ride for a little guy.
Definitly complain to the school, if they hear enough complaints, they'll probably change something.
Organize with other parents to try to work this out for all of you. You should not have to have your child on a bus for nearly two hours a day just to get to a preschool you can drive him to in much less time.
Is there a parent board for this school? Can you get onto it or make a presentation to it? Do a petition?
It sounds like the design of the new school was done by someone with only buses in mind and not cars and parents who have smaller kids. Frankly that's inexcusable. You're paying for this preschool, I assume, so you and other parents should be right there organizing to improve its safety and efficiency. There must be other parents like you for whom parking is a total problem if you're on a side street etc.
My daughter only goes to Prek in the afternoons (so I understand not wanting to have to get him up earlier) but her ride is roughly 45 minutes - sometimes an hour. It's only Prek kids and she loves riding it. I say let your son ride the bus. It will build independence and character and if he WANTS to do it, why not let him? Then you don't have to worry about getting your daughter out and about in the cold/wet/snowy/icy weather this fall/winter.
Good luck!
Is it just preschool on the bus? Our school has a separate bus for preschool. Can you make friends with a mom that can walk your son in so you don't have to take your little one out of the car? I used to walk out a girl that went to school with my oldest her siblings (twins) were usually fast asleep in the car when school got out.
The problem is is if the school allows you to do that they have to bend the rules for everyone else.
There must be other disgruntled parents as well. I wonder if the school is working on the drop off/pick up problem? Sounds pretty crappy. If you can think of a logical way to solve the issue they would probably love to hear your ideas. I doubt they will let you in with the buses, if they let one they have to let them all....
Your child might do fine for the 45 minute ride, maybe try it and see how it goes and that will solve your problem.
Can you find a group of rotating parent volunteers to do a different pick up drop off route than the one you have now? I would try to work with them not against them.
If you are that against the bus ride, it would seem you have already found your best alternative.
However, it sounds like the pick up/drop off issue should be addressed since I am sure everyone is having the same issues.
