Just call me Aqua

[89th]

I removed most of the labels from this map to somewhat increase my anonymity.

Anyway, here are 3 elementary school districts where I live. We were told this coming school year that to control costs, they are planning on increasing the 'walking distance' to schools from 0.5 miles to 2.0 miles, to save money from bus operations. In other words, if you live less than 2 miles from school, the district will not pay for your child to use a school bus, you have to pay a fee if you want a bus to pick your child up. The fee isn't much, I think maybe $150 for the year, but it's stupid, especially as it relates to elementary schools which naturally have smaller "boundaries".

I can see it making sense for middle and high school boundaries, which are very large, but not elementary schools.

So I created this map and sent it to the district to show them how elementary school boundaries generally speaking have an area smaller than a 2-mile radius. The areas in green are where a student would have a bus pick them up, everyone else is "walkable". Call me Aqua, my wife thinks I'm being a little petty about it, but sorry... what a dumb policy change.

Further, I told them that my 5 year old would take 50 minutes to walk 1.4 miles to school, in which 6 of the 9 school months the temperature in the morning is below freezing, and 8 of the 9 school months she would be leaving in the dark.

Let's see what they say. Or they'll ignore me I'm sure.

[Mik]

No, that's stupid.

[George K]

1. It's stupid
2. They'll ignore you

because

3. They're stupid

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Just call me Aqua:

2. They'll ignore you

There are ways around that. Any of which I'd suggest would be more than appropriate in this case.

[Mik]

Yep. Actually I was just t the school board meeting last night. MFR presented.

Frame it as a safety issue. Then they have to pay attention.

[Copper]

idiots

And let them know I said so

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in Just call me Aqua:

Yep. Actually I was just t the school board meeting last night. MFR presented.

Frame it as a safety issue. Then they have to pay attention.

Yep. Lawsuits.

[kluurs]

My brother had to deal with a similar situation a few years ago. He organized the neighbors and got the local paper involved. It was devastating...for the school board. In the end, they fired the staff member who had made the recommendation. The reporter asked that if my brother ever went to battle with the school board again, to call her promptly as it was one of the most entertaining encounters of her career. School boards don't like being made to look stupid. Ask them if they have considered the added liability risk in factoring the money they think they are saving. Part of it for them may be an attempt to demonstrate the need for an increase in taxes - but also, it has become very difficult to recruit school bus drivers. It's a nightmare job from almost anyone's perspective.

[Jolly]

I think 1 mile is starting to stretch it for elementary kids. Especially in inclimate weather.

[Aqua Letifer]

Any kids with disabilities affected? Kids whose parents don't have their own transportation?

[LuFins Dad]

Wait, I thought Elementary Kids weren’t allowed to walk 3 blocks by themselves. Free Range Parenting and all that…

[George K]

@LuFins-Dad said in Just call me Aqua:

Wait, I thought Elementary Kids weren’t allowed to walk 3 blocks by themselves. Free Range Parenting and all that…

Yeah, Karen funny, that, eh?

[89th]

@Mik said in Just call me Aqua:

Yep. Actually I was just t the school board meeting last night. MFR presented.

Frame it as a safety issue. Then they have to pay attention.

That is true. I should mention they do have a policy for individual schools to make exceptions for students who have to cross busy highways or hazards, etc. So they aren’t totally unreasonable on safety… but I think really it’s a walking-distance change to match an adjoining school district policy which already has it in place. It saves a bunch of money and increases some revenue.

That being said, I’m mainly surprised because we specifically moved to this school district because it’s the top in the state. Schools are 10/10 excellent… I hope someone on the planning committee gets to see my very scientific map.

[89th]

@kluurs interesting story and view. I do think there’s a part of this that aims to put pressure on the state of MN to change its school funding model to better keep up with inflation and costs, it seems to not be set up in such a way now. Combine that with the fact that the state has like a 17 billion budget surplus and schools want some of that dough.

[89th]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Just call me Aqua:

Any kids with disabilities affected? Kids whose parents don't have their own transportation?

In short, you can pay the bus fee. Or I’m sure there will be exemption applications similar to free/reduced lunch

On that note, MN just passed legislation that makes school breakfasts and lunches free for all students, regardless of household income.

[Aqua Letifer]

@89th said in Just call me Aqua:

@Aqua-Letifer said in Just call me Aqua:

Any kids with disabilities affected? Kids whose parents don't have their own transportation?

In short, you can pay the bus fee. Or I’m sure there will be exemption applications similar to free/reduced lunch

Might want to look into the details as there may be some pedantic illegality there.