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Good Afternoon, I am looking at connecting with other parents regarding school bus transportation issues. More specifically the parents of children who have to cross major streets after getting off the bus to get to and from school. And these parents would have had to sign a waiver of liability.  
I have broached this issue with our MLA, my city counsellor, the Mayor, the Education Minister, the School Board/Division as well as the School Board Trustees. All of who have said we have legitimate concerns.  
If you could send me a message on here so I can talk to you it would be appreciated.  
I am going to fight this as high as I can, but I need your help.  
Thank you for reading.

I just want to be clear. Are you saying that when your child’s bus arrives at school they disembark and then have to cross a major street to get from the bus to the school?

That is correct. The bus transportation will drop her off at Harrison school and then she will have to walk to Green Acres School and vise versa to come home.  
And apparently the Meadows school kids have to cross Richmond to get to the school.  
I feel like this is not ok, and I'm sure there are other parents that feel the same way.

do the kids get dropped off on the south side of Richmond, that they have to walk north across Richmond to Meadows

the kids walk from Harrison to Green acres at 9 and back at 3 or is it only for a certain class for part of the day

That's insane and I wouldn't stand for it. The bus should take them to their school. If this is true a kindergarten child could be walking alone across first street to get to green acres school. That is unsafe and they could easily get lost or taken. I would find it hard to believe they would make it to school on time. I have seen how late those buses arrive at Harrison and sometimes those busses are late for the Harrison kids.

Yes the Meadows students have to cross Richmond to get to school.  
Unfortunately due to safety concerns we have decided to concede and send our daughter to the catchment school. As much as it breaks my heart to move her during the school year.  
I have emailed this concern to our MLA, the School Board, The Trustees, the Mayor and city council (although the Mayor did email back and say his hands are unfortunately tied) as well as the Education Minister  
But I will fight this as high as I can. This is not ok. At all.

In rural towns the buses drop kids off at multiple schools.  
 
Brandon refuses to pay the drivers 20 minutes to complete their job?  
 
Even if you sign a waiver it doesn''t mean anything under the law. The schools can still get sued.  
 
The moment they get on the bus, regardless of where they're going the responsibility is on the school board and province to look after them for the entire time.  
 
Edited by Hey!, 2018-01-18 12:57:26

Heavenly Auras said "Yes the Meadows students have to cross Richmond to get to school.   Unfortunately due to safety concerns we have decided to concede and send our daughter to the catchment school. As much as it breaks my heart to move her during the school year.   I have emailed this concern to our MLA, the School Board, The Trustees, the Mayor and city council (although the Mayor did email back and say his hands are unfortunately tied) as well as the Education Minister   But I will fight this as high as I can. This is not ok. At all. "

Change cannot happen if people don't stand up for themselves or others!  
It would be easy enough for the bus to stop in front of the school wouldn't it?  
I would say this decision is in the hands of the school board.  
Kudos to Mayor Chrest for answering your concerns

I spoke to our MLA's assistant this afternoon as well as the traffic Sargent at BPS and and everyone else I've talked to have....well been shocked that the School Board thinks it's completely acceptable for the littles to walk across major streets to get to school. And according to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees she was shocked to find out that this was a problem in the first place.  
As I've said, even though any decision going forward won't directly impact my daughter...it impacts someone else's son or daughter and if I can help save a life, I will.  
I cannot let this go. I will not let this go.i am totally willing to be the mouth piece on this.  
When I was at the school division today, I was reading their mission statement on the wall and it said something to the effect of "practise responsibility of the safety of the kids"...crossing major city streets that are part of highways is not practicing responsibility (in my opinion)  
This has to change. And the Universe willing, it will change

I strongly believe there is a lot of missing info here. Meadows has a bus loop at the school for dropping off and picking up kids via BSD busses. They actually just fixed the loop there so half the loop is visitor parking, the other bit is for the busses. (They did that last school year)  
 
The kids that live within the Meadows catchment but don’t qualify for the bus because they live so close, yes some of those kids may have to cross at the FLASHING lights intersection at 22nd and Richmond, or the marked crosswalk at 26th and Richmond. The BSD doesn’t not drop bus kids off on Richmond  
 
Now I can’t speak for Harrison students or Green acres, but that scenario seems odd to me.

There are more children crossing these 'busy' streets than those who happen to get off the school bus. Children live all over the city, and regularly have to cross a busy street on their route to/from school. Thankfully, the streets closer to schools have crossing guards at the busy intersections near school times, but children have for many years crossed other busy roads to get to, and from, school. Children needed to be taught at a young age to walk safe, and cross safe, and be safe.  
 
There undoubtedly is more to this story than we are seeing here.

There is more to the story, then I am not aware. The Superintendent told me that this is an issue across the city. I only know my story. He gave me the Meadows school as an example and same with the Principal at Green Acres, she gave me the same example.  
 
As originally posted, I'm looking to speak directly with those impacted, as my daughter is/was.

I have never seen a actual school bus drop kids off on the south side of Richmond. They kids that cross the street live on that side of Richmond. They now have crossing guards at lunch hour. There is also lights that the kids use.

Well the only way the issues would be fixed would be this: Any children with in walking distance in their catchment but has to cross a major road way would become a bus student......  
 
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. The BSD would then need to hire more bus drivers and put more buses on the road. Next thing you know our tax dollars would be increased to help support it because of the costs associated.  
 
There are children crossing busy roads and intersections all over Brandon. Some of those don’t even have the flashing light options.  
 
Teach your kids young: Stop, Look, Listen! Before crossing any street. We taught our child not to just stop and look, but before he steps off the sidewalk he is to make eye contact with the drivers around him to ensure he can cross safely.  
You’d be surprised how far it goes.

I’m confused by this. Most schools have a bus loop right outside their school for drop off. Bus students from meadows are dropped off in their loop. The kids crossing Richmond are non bus students. As for green acres though, that one really confused me. Are you sure you don’t mean George Fitton kids are getting dropped off at Harrison? Cause they are only a playground apart. But non bus kids would be crossing 1st. I’ve never heard of buses dropping kids off blocks from their school before? Also a lot of kids have to cross major streets to get to their bus stop. Kids all over the world have to cross busy streets to catch a bus or walk to school. If it’s that concerning, drive your own child too and from?  
Just as non bus kids cross major streets all over the city. It’s normal. My kids had to cross Victoria ave to get to school (non bus). Many schools have patrols or sets of lights. Nobody seems concerned about the non bus kids?  
 
Edited by Cheezies, 2018-01-18 14:44:46

The difference is non bus kids will have someone walk them to school, help them cross safely and ensure they find their way to the school on time and don't get lost if They are too young to walk to school by themselves. Also there are patrols and crossing guards at most schools. There are no patrols or crossing guards at 1st street. It would take the bus less than 5 minutes to drive from harrisson to green acres to ensure the kids got their safely. Not everyone has a vehicle and so they may not be able to drive their child to school and if they live far enough away from the school to qualify for bussing it is likely too far of a walk to walk them to and from school everyday especially in very cold weather.

Popgoestheweasel said "The difference is non bus kids will have someone walk them to school, help them cross safely and ensure they find their way to the school on time and don't get lost if They are too young to walk to school by themselves. Also there are patrols and crossing guards at most schools. There are no patrols or crossing guards at 1st street. It would take the bus less than 5 minutes to drive from harrisson to green acres to ensure the kids got their safely. Not everyone has a vehicle and so they may not be able to drive their child to school and if they live far enough away from the school to qualify for bussing it is likely too far of a walk to walk them to and from school everyday especially in very cold weather. "

I know a lot of children that walk on their own. Not a lot of parents have the option to work after 9am, or can leave at 3:35. I only walked with my children for a week to show them the way and to show them how to cross a street properly. And they didn’t have patrols at every crossing. Had to walk from 26th st to 18th and cross Victoria ave (which only had patrols for first year or two of opening oxford to elementary).  
But I do agree about walking from Harrison to green acres. It’s okay for them to walk to George Fitton as that’s close. But if bus kids from green acres are getting dropped off at Harrison, that is ridiculous. The bus should be dropping them off at green acres. That is too far, when they are a designated bus student.  
But if this is about kids having to cross a major street to get to their bus stop to get to school, and the school bus drops them off at the school, then on the way home the bus picks them up at school and they get off the bus and have to cross a major street to get Home.... this isn’t the school divisions responsibility.  
 
Edited by Cheezies, 2018-01-18 15:24:39

 
 
Edited by matt123, 2018-01-18 16:32:23

is Green Acres your catchment school? The days of school of choice are coming to an end with a lot of schools full or overflowing. All bused students to Meadows are dropped off in the loading zone at the school. I also have seen adult patrols at 22nd and Richmond in the morning helping kids cross. In my opinion patrols at these crossings would be a easier and safe solution! How many buses would have to be rerouted to drop every student at their school?

I don’t have children but I live in this area and I have to say, as an adult, I get anxiety when I have to cross 1st street at Queens with my daycare kids. We have had too many close calls and I just find it easier and less stressful to stay on our side of 1st. My husband also sometimes walks to work and even using the lights and being a big guy, people still don’t stop!! It scares me to be honest to think that little kids are crossing here every day, unsupervised! I hope you are able to get a solution to this issue. (I’m not usually a helicopter person and I’m all about kids taking risks and learning through experience and I advocate for kids to learn how to be responsible and safe but this intersection really does make me nervous)  
 
Could a teacher or EA maybe start a walking school bus from each school? Why are there no student patrols at this intersection like they have at other places?  
 
It would be easy for the bus to drop off at GA and then continue to Harrison I would think? Too bad they aren’t doing this for safety reasons.

What was failed to be mentioned, is Green Acres is NOT a busing school! They don’t have an area for buses to drop off students, as they don’t have buses there. This is a case of a parent choosing a school outside their catchement area and expecting the school division to get their child to a school of choice. So the closest bus stop/hub is Harrison. I’m sorry, but if you choose to send your child to a school outside of your catchement areas, you should have to find your own transportation. These buses can’t be expected to drive to every single school to drop off individual children outside their area. An extra 5 mins to drive down the street to drop off 1 kid, means the next set of students waiting for their bus are 5 minutes late.  
It’s probably a good thing they are doing away with school of choice for the most part, so entitlement may go down.  
Many kids cross major streets daily, and that’s to go to school in their catchement area, so why should children who apply to go elsewhere get special treatment?

Thanks Cheezies! If you are sending your child to a non bussed school what do you expect? I did a google maps and yea the street just goes by the school, no bus areas, small parking lot for cars. Well eliminating catchment will do wonders and hopefully save on bussing costs. Other option is destroy playground area at the school so parents can have their children bussed to school. Or.....their child walks the 600m it is between schools. Walking is a no brainer. As for kids crossing on Richmond. Yup they cross at 3rd St at the big marked crossing. They cross at 22nd St. at the big marked crossing. And they cross at Linden at the big marked crossing. Good Grief they cross the TransCanada Highway 1A at Fotheringham. Tons of crossings on Victoria Ave too. What do you want paid people to man these crossings during school hours? A chaperone to walk your child to school?

if the student went to the school in their catchment are this would not be an issue , the sooner the school of choice policy is dropped the better !

Cheezies said "What was failed to be mentioned, is Green Acres is NOT a busing school! They don’t have an area for buses to drop off students, as they don’t have buses there. This is a case of a parent choosing a school outside their catchement area and expecting the school division to get their child to a school of choice. So the closest bus stop/hub is Harrison. I’m sorry, but if you choose to send your child to a school outside of your catchement areas, you should have to find your own transportation. These buses can’t be expected to drive to every single school to drop off individual children outside their area. An extra 5 mins to drive down the street to drop off 1 kid, means the next set of students waiting for their bus are 5 minutes late.   It’s probably a good thing they are doing away with school of choice for the most part, so entitlement may go down.   Many kids cross major streets daily, and that’s to go to school in their catchement area, so why should children who apply to go elsewhere get special treatment? "

I knew there had to be more to this story.  
 
How ridiculous of those parents thinking BSD should be responsible to get their kid to their out of catchment area school!  
 
My child goes to a school that's out of our catchment and I'd NEVER expect them to get her transportation. Yikes!

I was always thought that if you chose to send your child to a school outside your catchment area that it was your responsibility to get your child to and from that school. Why is the school division being expected to transport these school of choice students all over the city??  
 
When we were purchasing our home many years ago the most important consideration for us was the distance our children would have to go to get to school and what major streets they had to cross. There were many houses that we wouldn't go look at simply because of their location to an elementary school. So if parents are buying homes too far from a school or across a street that they deem too busy for a young child too cross who's fault is that??

How old is the child and have they had a run through with you with how to get home safely? Are they 6 or 15?  
 
If someone says a child is a child, yes, but they have different developmental skills and cognitive behavior at various ages. Safety starts in the home and the Division cannot look after each child from my experience - that is a no brainer.  
 
If the crossing is a busy one (am I right in thinking there is a crosswalk with press lights there?) why can't the older child, tween, teen cross on their own with thorough parental safety tutorials and walk a few blocks?  
 
If it's deemed too busy of a street by enough parents and the bus/division has zero choice, maybe it's up to the Bdn. School Division to consult with the Provincial Government (1st Street falls under Province as a Highway) to have a traffic light study done at this corner or install an 'on demand' light as they have at Vic and 21st (?) and the East end on Victoria by King George School. As we all know, that is $$$ from the taxpayers. Possibly well spent though?  
 
Tough question, but also whatever happened to walking home a few blocks?  
 
These questions are not meant to be insensitive or prying, but just posting a few things to get a little more insight as to some possible solutions.  
 
Last observation is thank goodness we actually survived childhood with basic skills that parents taught us then.

My kids went to St. Augustine's(by choice). They crossed 1st St twice a day from kindergarten to Gr8. I felt it was MY responsibility to teach them the proper way to cross a major highway.  
Did I worry about them doing this?? Every single day! I also worried about them crossing the street in front of the school (which at times was more dangerous than 1st St, in my opinion).

The OP left out some important details that are very important to this situation. I bet that is a first on eBrandon.  
 
If the OP chose a different school for her child, it should be her responsibility to provide transportation, not the taxpayers of Brandon. Too many people have a sense of entitlement in our society, believing that others should bear the responsibility for one's own choices.  
 
Thank you Cheezies and Fishin Guy for filling in the details that the OP chose to omit. She tried to rally people to her cause without providing the full picture.  
 
Edited by standard standard h8r, 2018-01-19 09:55:00

Lets ignore the fact that Greenacres has no area for bus drop offs. The school division is probably liable for issues when these kids cross major streets when there is other options.  
 
One is no school bus transportation period for school of choice children. That has been mentioned in the catchment area coverage. In the case of Greenacres children a parent can use the city bus either with their child or by themselves if older.  
 
Pretty simple. Kids in the catchment area can walk to school. Outside the area when a parent chooses that school,the BSD should not provide a bus.  
 
In the mean time the current practice should stop. We should not put these kids in harms way. Maybe in the meantime a parent volunteer should greet the busses at the drop off point of these school of choice kids and help them get across.  
 
 
Even the BSD should do that until the safety issue is solved. The catchment/school of choice issue is secondary at this time but in my opinion is part of the problem.