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The email continues:

The problem I am faced with, is that I do not wish my name to be published.

Since my children as well as the other children in my area are directly affected by Mr. Stewart’s actions, I do fear repercussions. I do have the names of the other residents who were in attendance to verify what we heard.

If you would be interested in hearing the details of this meeting, please feel free to contact me.

I did get in touch and here’s what I discovered:

After the major bus fiasco, we arrived at the transportation department to discuss our concerns.

After being informed that the employees had no control over the situation, we visited administration building. Mr. Steward and Dr. Burkey agreed to speak with us regarding our concerns.

Many items were discussed, but there were some areas that raised additional concern.

It was immediately apparent that Mr. Stewart did not see the changes in the bus routine to be anything more than a minor inconvenience to the parents.

When the concerns regarding distance, crossing streets and stops beyond the line of site were vocalized, Mr. Steward stated,

We wonder if the parents making these complaints even let their children out of the house.

A second parent said his/her

head was still spinning after the comment about us not even letting our children out of our homes.

The email continued,

He then stated,

Let me ask you this. How would you feel if we did not offer any bus service at all? Because that was also considered.

He told us that the bus service was not our private taxi service, but that is what it has become.

Then, the bombshell:

We were then informed that the only reason so many buses and stops were added to the routes in the past were to ensure the passing of the previous referendum.

We went on to discuss why we had the concerns we did including safety issues that seem to be unaddressed, such as busy intersections being used as stops, bus overcrowding and lack of seats for all children.

We were informed that the minimum safety standards required by IDOT were followed.

After some pressure, he finally did admit that they could have chosen safety guidelines in addition to those required by IDOT, but they decided not to.

They believed that minimum safety was an acceptable alternative. They blamed overcrowding on parents refusing to use their assigned stops or parental failure to educate themselves on where they were actually assigned.

We went on to discuss why we had the concerns we did, including safety issues that seem to be unaddressed, such as

· busy intersections being used as stops,
· bus overcrowding and
· lack of seats for all children.

We were finally informed that the computer program that was used to determine the location of the bus stops and the distance traveled by the children was inaccurate.

No checks had been done to ensure the program was accurate.

Some children were directed to bus stops well beyond the 1/4 mile stance that was intended.

We were assured that those who were traveling that far would be reassigned, but as of this time no changes have been made.

My neighborhood sent numerous emails and two separate petitions to Mr. Stewart outlining our concerns.

At this time no one involved has been contacted and no changes have been made.

As you have probably already heard, one child was dropped off at the wrong stop quite a distance from her home.

What the papers failed to mention was that this child was physically removed from her correct bus by her classroom teacher, then she was actually kicked off the bus by the driver when he reached his last stop.

When she stated tearfully that she had no idea where she was he replied,

I don't care. I am retiring tomorrow. Now get off.

This child walked in the rain until she was located by her parents.

Her parents attempted to contact the school, the transportation department, and the administration department when their child did not arrive at home. There was no answer at any of the offices.

When a parent from Summit Ridge tried to speak to the bus driver about her inappropriately yelling at the children on her bus, she was told that it was

Miller Time,

and she needed to go.

Another parent from Star Summit contacted the transportation office regarding her two children living in the same home, being assigned two different stops for the same bus.

She was told that it was because Mr. Steward did not know what he was doing.

I hope this gives you some helpful information. Contrary to what has been claimed, we are not overly protective parents who are afraid to be inconvenienced. We have continued to give, and we are tired of having our children pay the price. The least the transportation department can offer us is a safe ride to school.

To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.

And, if anyone would like me to know more than I have written, please email me at calskinner@comcast.net or call me at 815-459-3506.