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Tuesday Nov. 12, 2008 at 6pm I received a phone call from South Street Elementary School in Fitchburg, MA where my 5 year old attends kindergarden. It was a charming little recording informing me that children who are forced to pay to take the Mart City Bus to school will no longer be able to do so without a pricey bus pass. The normal 50 cents per ride is not accepted as of the morning of November 13, 2008.

Color me shocked when I ask myself when did they come to this conclusion and why did they wait until 14 hours before the bus is to pick our children up to notify us? I would think even a three-day notice or advance would have been a bit more tolerable, but less than 24 hours in notice just seems bullying and extortive. But as a parent I haven't a choice, have I. The school has made yet again another change without the consult of its constituent's guardians and with baltant disreguard for its lower income parents.

I wish that I could say that this is the first time I have been less than impressed with the goings on at South Street Elementary. Incidents concerning lack of information, completely wrong information and accusatory tones and letters have put me on the defensive with the school. Such as my child clearly had his bus money taken from him, told me the child's name, then told the teacher, but was still accused of never having it at all. Admittedly I really didn't appreciate having someone supposed to be an educator being so bold as to insinuate that I either didn't send the bus money in with my child, or my child managed to lose it in the course of the day. Yes a bus pass does make it easier and a handout would have been appropriate and a date been determined to give the parent time to get the bus pass, but I can only draw the conclusion that the "Powers That Be" at South Street Elementary do not feel that children like mine who take the Mart bus everyday have parents that deserve more than a 14 hour notice about changes being made at the schools leisure.

I cant help but point out that Mart bus riders are required to purchase a bus pass at full price for the month of November because this has been decided. The full months bus pass is 25 dollars, but there are only 10 school days left in the month. When I add up 50 cents a ride, which leads to $1.00 a day, and with 10 days left in the month well that would be $10.00. Then why is the bus pass not being prorated since it is now a requirement and not an option?

It is traditional that a bus pass would save the buyer money and not charge over double that the cash equivalent would be.

Does Mart get this overhead? Does the school pocket all the extra money from these required in the middle of the month bus passes? This is why I have to agree that public school bussing should be free. Not only is it a financial necessity, it will elminate situation like the one I find myself in right now. My son may not be attending school on Nov. 13, 2008 because I have not bugeted for the $25 dollar charge that the public school gave us city bus users 14 hour notice who without a dout knew about this change long before they informed us. I truly wonder and the question will stay on my mind when I go into the school as one of the "no need to inform them ahead of time" parents "Maybe school choice is the better option?"

Learn more about this author, Maria Brogna.
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