As a dedicated bus driver, I have long valued the bond that I can share with my child while transporting her to and from school on my bus route. This connection has become even more significant since my child was diagnosed with a 504, necessitating door to door service.

For years, bus drivers have been allowed to choose routes based on seniority, even when it involves transporting our own family members. This system operates on the rule that we may transport any student, including our own kin, as long as they are on route. However, things changed when one parent claimed, with no evidence, that my daughter's presence on my bus was causing her child to be late to school.

In response to this single complaint, the school district is considering a measure that would prohibit bus drivers from transporting their own family members altogether. This potential policy change fails to consider the unique circumstances and needs of families like mine. Furthermore, if this policy is put in place many drivers may choose to not continue driving being that they choose this job because of the family in the community. It is already hard enough to find drivers and this policy may cause a drastic decrese in employees for the district. The assertion that our kids being on our buses affects timeliness is unsubstantiated. According to the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), bus transportation is the most reliable form of transportation for students, with a reliability rate of 99% (NAPT, 2018). 

Prohibiting drivers from taking their children could significantly impact families' lives while providing no proven benefits to efficiency or timeliness. I am reaching out to teachers, parents, students, and community members, asking for your support to stop this drastic and potentially harmful policy change. Let's uphold the rights of bus drivers and the value of family bonds. Please, sign the petition.