Transportation aide? Auntie?

changingnames

Hi ladies, is is in reference to my post below about our driver giving candy canes and not properly buckling the kids in as well as me just not being comfortable with him. Do you know on what basis we can request an aide to be on the bus. Ds isn't really having ny problems except that he is tough enough to get into the s eat that the drov was giving him candy. The other little boy seems to have stopped unbuckling himself. Imnot sure we have any grounds to request an aide but I would sure like another adult on the bus. Sadly I just don't really trust our driver.

malcivar

-auntie-:

I know of preschoolers riding over an hour each way for SE preschool. This could be a win the battle but lose the war scenario.

 Yes, here in NYC, the longest that a pre-schooler can be on the bus either to or from the school is 1hr 15 mins.  DS being the 1st kid that gets picked up in the morning on his route and the 2nd to last kid being dropped off afterwards generally spends a combined time of 2hrs 30 mins + on the bus every day.  Keep in mind, he's only at school for 2 hrs.  But auntie is right, your school's transportation office may be able to offer some help in this regard. 

 Good luck. 

changingnames

Two hours and thirty minutes? Holy molly! We are only a mile forms school so that would really suck!

. I don't claim that sugar causes any illness or add or anything just that my personal toddler is no good for his nap after having candy and that IME he is more likely to have a tantrum or be whiney when he has candy and is tired (nap time is when he gets home except for one day a week when he has therapy). Also we flat out don't eat like that. That was the first hard candy he has ever had. My husband is really strict aout the kids eating organic and everything being homemade. We haven't had fast food or soda in at least ten years. It just isn't our lifestyle. Ds gets treats at holidays and special occasions but I make them from scratch. If he is at someones house for a birthday etc we let him have a small portion of the sweets but he usually doesn't even want a ton of processed sugar. Plus it isn't good for their teeth since hard candy spends a long time in your mouth.

. I know as he gets older he will eat this stuff more but it doesn't need to be regular Y happening on the bus KWIM?

at pick up today his straps were loose and th chest belt was low and I knew I couldn't wait so I called the transport manager and just said I have some concerns- improper restraint and it has come to our attention m has been giving ds candy canes. He was very receptive and thanked for me for calling and encouraged me tp do so again. He said he would do a spot check at the school and take the opportunity to demonstrate proper use and remind the drivers to untangle while waiting for the kids at pick up. I didn't say anything about creeping me out since I don't think that is actionable, lol.

MummyGruetzie

Just a thought... Are other kids in the school also riding a (non-special-ed exclusive) bus? You could argue that you feel that he's being excluded from his peers and that he should be able to ride with them. Larger buses can accomodate safety harnesses. Not sure about a car seat on the standard buses... And actually... If the other kids aren't wearing seat-belts, then I guess THAT could be what your aide is for. So that DS can ride like all the other kids do (without a seatbelt) and have aide to supervise that he remains seated and safe at all times since the bus driver would not be able to attend to your DS' safety issues while driving. An aide doesn't seem like a long shot at that point. The school bus is a very valid part of the school experience and a future IEP could very well have reasonable goals that would further emphasize the importance of his time on the school bus. 

MummyGruetzie

I didn't realize he was in pre-school. You're definitely right that if the other kids aren't getting it that wouldn't work. 

thefuturemrskudla

Hi,

I just saw your orginal post. I don't have advice about the aide, but I really want to tell you that if you have a gut feeling about the driver, that he makes you uncomfortable, etc., take your child off that van.  This may be drastic, result in incredible inconveniece or expense, or you may be tempted not to second guess your instincts, but I have found that our intuition is often correct.

 

jsugrin

I just wanted to say congratulations!  Good for you for making the call and it sounds like everything went much more smoothly than you expected, so that is great.  Now that you've established a relationship with the transportation supervisor (or whomever it was) it will be that much easier for you to call when there is an issue.  I also think that if you continue to have thing perk up your "creepy meter" that there is no reason you can't address it with the transport person in a subtle way.  I think it's important feedback for them and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if you've got a driver that has issues handling a larger bus (with a larger population) and with in the constraints of his union your driver was given this job, where he could do the least "damage" (does that make sense?).  I guess my point is, they may not be shocked by your complaints and it may be what they need to get rid of the guy.

I also agree with the pp that if you really feel the guy is a creep to trust that and take DS yourself if at all possible.

suzymarie

DS is on a van similar to yours, and has been since 2.9 yrs with no aide.

So I understand and share a lot of your concerns.  In my district at least, no way would he get an aide.   DS is on the bus about 15 min each way, and this year we have had a very consistent driver.  Last year it changed weekly- that was tough.  Preschool driving routes are bottom of the barrel here- you get hired, and drive the van.  Then as soon as you have your bus certification, you move to a bus as that pays more.  Lucky us, huh!

Anyway, in the neighboring district to me, my friend's preschooler gets an aide plus a driver.  So I guess it just depends on the district, so it wouldn't hurt to ask. 

mommyof4boys

Here we didn't have to make the case this year for an aid. The company that they contracted out doesn't let us get on the bus and doesn't let the driver get out of his seat. Chris has a harness since he likes to walk around on the bus. We decided to keep him in it this year and I'm happy we did. On long weekends and after longer breaks he has been known to climb out of the harness.

Can you make a case that way and come off as it's a safety issue? 

tevagirl

So the driver is the one buckling the kids in?

At the preschool I work for, we only provide transpo for sp-ed enrolled students.  But transpo is "hand to hand".  So the parents put the child on the bus, in a 5 pt harness and they stay in the harness until the get to school and one of the staff unbuckle them and take them off the bus.

We do let our drivers kids the kids treats, it's written into their IEP that they are allowed to reward appropriate behavior.  HOWEVER, treats are given when the student is dropped at home/daycare and is no longer restrained.

In addition to talk to the transpo office, you may also want to speak to your case manager.