What are the laws of school bus pick up?

Question

my child is 14 years old and is starting their freshmen year in high school and will be riding the bus. the problem is i live on an L shaped street and the bus driver wants her to walk .4 miles to a busy highway which isnt visible to catch the bus and she was catching the bus for middle school at the corner of the L which was visible to my house. what are my childs rights and safety? i think this is such a far walk and they saying if i live a half mile from the highway then they will come down the street but were .4 miles and its close enough to a half mile. what can i do. the school board wants to do an investigation and school just started and my child is without transportation because i work 45 miles from home and my child will be coming home alone in the afternoons so i refuse for her to catch the public bus at the highway..i need help to as for what to do. this is in the state of louisiana. thank you.

Answer 1

You should telecommute

Answer 2

Ok so then your problem is your paranoid of your child's safety.  Let me tell you something.  The streets are no less safe now then they were when you were going to school.  Difference is all the publicity that you hear of bad things happening.  They want you to be affraid cause people that are affraid are easy to control.  I use to walk 1.5 miles to the bus stop and I was only 8 so I don't think .4 miles is going to harm a 14 year old.  As a matter of fact it will probably do your child some good.

Answer 3

There are no laws.  Each district sets its own policy.  If your child is not disabled, and you contest a requirement to walk ten minute to the bus stop, you will lose.

Answer 4

Every state and district has its own rules.... but no one ever died from walking .4 mi. Is there any other kids that she can walk with? I know we all GROAN at the stories, but in reality, we older ones had to walk a h**l of a lot further than that in all kinds of weather. It builds character. The one advantage we had is that it wasn't as dangerous. But until you can work it out with the bus system, just make sure she understands about all the stranger dangers, what to do in case of the "what ifs", etc.... and I am sure she will be fine. Another option is a moped. She could ride it to the bus stop and chain it to a post, or something. Just a thought.  

Answer 5

That's a tough one.  I'd suggest that you contact your state's department of education to see if they can intervene with the local school authorities.  Legally, they may have the right to refuse over that 1/10 of a mile but just because something is legal doesn't make it the right thing to do.  At the very least it might be possible for someone at the state level to convince those at the local level to pick her up at the corner while they evaluate or do their investigation or whatever they want to call it.  If not, you may want to contact an attorney who will ask a judge to make them pick her up at the corner while the issue is being decided and then he can help you with making your case to the school board and/or judge.

Good luck.