Wants to Know
School Bus Stop Concerns in Cape Coral
-
Sarah jump was furious when she learned her seven year old daughter makayla's bus stop changed this year... Now, instead of just around the corner... Makayla will have to walk more than five blocks to wait for her bus. Video by fox4now.com
video
CAPE CORAL—Sarah Jump was furious when she learned her seven year old daughter, Makayla's bus stop changed this year. Now, instead of just around the corner, Makayla will have to walk more than five blocks to wait for her bus. Sarah says, it’s not just the distance that concerns her.
“Five blocks on unlit streets, to an unlit bus stop, to stand out there for who knows how long,” Sarah says.
She’s not alone; Cape Councilman Kevin McGrail says they've received tons of email from parents in the same boat, who agree on only one thing.
“There’s no good answer,” says Sarah, “But there’s got to be some answer.”
McGrail’s solution, and the district’s plan this year, is to reduce the number of bus stops which will also decrease ride time for students.
“The school system,” says McGrail, “Is going to save in excess of a million dollars just by increasing efficiency of their school bus routes.”
McGrail also says, there's safety in numbers, plus a longer trip to the bus stop, means an increased chance parents will stay and hang out, a theory Sarah isn’t buying.
“If I’m being forced to take my child to a bus stop, why not just take her to school,” Sarah says.
What about Sarah's concern that her daughter’s bus stop is not lighted, I asked McGrail about that.
“My goal,” McGrail begins, “Is to work with the Lee County School System to see what it's going to take to put a light at those stops.”
Mcgrail says while it's impossible to please everyone, he is committed to lighting the remaining stops by December. Until then, Sarah has one request.
“Before they sit down and make a decision about what needs to be done,” Sarah says, “What they need to ask themselves is, what they would like done if it was their child.”
Sarah will have the chance to ask Councilman McGrail and the school district that question, and you can also voice your concerns about the bus stops, at two upcoming meetings. We're told the earliest any additional changes can be made to your child’s stop, is August 17th.
Meeting 1: South Library (off Mohawk) August 13th, 10:00a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meeting 2: North Library (off Chiquita) August 20th, 10:00a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
EMILY DISHNOW, REPORTER
edishnow@fox4now.com
FOX 4 IN YOUR CORNER
.png)
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.