Bus(t)ed

Grant has been kicked off Bus 406.  Actually the driver gently invited him not to ride his bus anymore; "Hey kid, I'm not supposed to be givin' ya rides anymore ya know."  News to us.

We just figured the transportation department for the GISD pulled a snafu again as the new school year began.  Earlier in the Summer we had filled out the forms sent to us to make sure the bus was routed through our neighborhood as it has been for the past 15 years, with a stop at Corley and Ladywood around 6:30 AM.  The first day of school - No bus.  It has happened before.  We drove him in the car and Grant caught the bus home from school after Day 1.  The next day the bus stopped and picked him up in the morning, but when he boarded for the ride home in the afternoon the driver told him it was against policy for him to ride the bus.  Indeed, there it was on the website: the district will not provide transportation to students living more than 2 miles from campus unless they are enrolled in the IB Program (International Baccalaureate), a super-sized AP curriculum that functions as a magnet for Garland HS.  Grant had been taking some IB courses, but rearranged his schedule and dropped the IB class, so according to policy, "No bus ride for you!"

Now Grant continues to play cello in orchestra, also a magnet program for Garland HS, but apparently not the clout of IB.  The bus still comes through our neighborhood, but it only accepts worthy passengers.  May be next year only students with a GPA of 3.25 or above will be bused? Or may be only those who are proficient in Spanish III or above can be transported?  Or, only those who are athletes will be eligible to ride? 

What a pain. We did not bother to raise a fuss or cuss about the bus. We now just drive Grant 6 miles RT to school in the morning and he rides back with a friend or walks to my office 4 blocks from school and I drive him home.  The bus policy makes no sense.  I pay taxes for a transportation department and the bus goes right past our house, what is gained by not stopping?  I would vote for that the School Board save expenses by cleaning out the buses everyday themselves ... with their tongues.