Parents: Special-ed busing not a priority

Not trying to be a jerk, but if a child is special needs you know there are certain things you have to do for them, wouldn't driving them in yourself be a little more reasonable then sending them on a bus?

Frank wrote:

Not trying to be a jerk, but if a child is special needs you know there are certain things you have to do for them, wouldn't driving them in yourself be a little more reasonable then sending them on a bus?

The law says that they need to be transported and that is the bottom line. The fact that they are special needs children is irrelevant in my opinion in regards to getting them to school on time. Every child special needs or not needs to be in school on time. As far as consistency and routine, this in my opinion is imperative for most children with special needs. Just because a child has speical needs, does not mean the parents should have to drive them. If the bus company steps up to the plate and does the job they are being paid to do, things will be just fine. Most parents are aware that the first week or so of school is hectic until the driver gets the routine down. Things usually settle pretty quickly.

90% of Special Ed kids shouldn't even be in a Public School. If they can't be taught and it's more like the teachers are baby sitting them than they shouldn't be in a Public School. The "No Child Left Behind" Act has crippled school's operating budgets by bowing to the extreme requests of their parents...waste of money and time. I know I'll get a lot of crap for this...but oh well! I just have the will to say what most people are thinking.

Exactly where should those 90% of Special Ed children go? You sound a lot like the Super in Chelmsford acts - no use for SPED kids, charter schools or lunch ladies. Kind of sick.

Special Ed has a very broad definition now adays. Children are fully evaluated and placed on IEP's but may not stay on them for good. Other children that are more severe and require extensive services etc may benefit more from a different setting than public school; but ultimately it is up to the parents and school administrators to make the final decision. It may be difficult to understand but every child deserves an education, regardless of their disabilities. In some cases, I would argue for proper placement though!!
Some people just have to be realistic.

CMB wrote:

90% of Special Ed kids shouldn't even be in a Public School. If they can't be taught and it's more like the teachers are baby sitting them than they shouldn't be in a Public School. The "No Child Left Behind" Act has crippled school's operating budgets by bowing to the extreme requests of their parents...waste of money and time. I know I'll get a lot of crap for this...but oh well! I just have the will to say what most people are thinking.

I understand how someone who is not directly involved would feel this way but special needs does not necessarily mean: Wheelchair Bound etc what most people may generally assume. Some children have developmental issues but are completely mobile and cognitively aware, but are considered "special needs." The buses are from these kinds of students.
The Vans are for the children who are wheelchair bound, require a walker etc. Some people may wonder why these children are in public school and not think it is a suitable setting but theer are special classrooms for these children with adaptive devices and tools to make a school day be a success for these children! It is definitely not your "typical" classroom. It is modified to meet the needs of each student, just like the vans and buses used to transport these children between home and school.

Frank wrote:

Not trying to be a jerk, but if a child is special needs you know there are certain things you have to do for them, wouldn't driving them in yourself be a little more reasonable then sending them on a bus?

I believe the bus company has done an adequate job fixing the issues; our son was late for over two weeks and has been on-time since they added a new bus and driver. Although this created havoc switching drivers and aides, the owner was very responsive. My question, which was not addressed in the article - if buses and drivers were added at additional cost (and I know of at least two as my son is on one), how much 'savings' has the town really received. In other words, why did we change?

It will be very difficult to determine if there will be any savings at all because the bus company has both the typical bus contract & in-Town Sped contract. It all depends on how he actually bills -& to which contract he bills the added runs. The odd thing is no one seems to be able to get a copy of the in - Town sped contract. What's that all about?

Said Borges, "Just getting on and off the bus, and getting settled into the classroom takes our kids a little bit longer than others. We just want our children to have the same opportunities for a public education as everybody else."

Then pay the bus fee or drive them yourself. Some people are just unreasonable. I don't even live in Chelmsford but I can see that this woman is impossible to deal with.

What is the town doing with the profit derived from the bus fees? Those in power need to get back the $40,000 they paid to the group that mapped the bus routes. They are horrible and make no sense at all.

The profit was a reported 400k.

speaking of the bus fee in chelmsford, i paid and i still do not have a bus pass for my daughter and she is not allowed on the busses.
yes, i registered her after aug 1st, but i registered her the same day i registered her at chelmsford high. and of course, they do not give refunds.

Wondering wrote:

Said Borges, "Just getting on and off the bus, and getting settled into the classroom takes our kids a little bit longer than others. We just want our children to have the same opportunities for a public education as everybody else."
Then pay the bus fee or drive them yourself. Some people are just unreasonable. I don't even live in Chelmsford but I can see that this woman is impossible to deal with.

Wondering: You are quoting and then maligning Gail Borges, based solely on the quote from this article. In both this quote and her single appearance to state her complaint before the School Committee (which as you don’t live in Chelmsford you presumably did not see), Ms. Borges has been remarkably calm, courteous and eloquent in describing her problem. I don’t believe she has been in any way unreasonable or impossible to deal with, and can't imagine that the School Committee or administration members would characterize her as such either. This was an undeserved cheap shot.