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Post by Concerned Columbus Parent on Feb 21, 2007 12:07:55 GMT -5
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Post by Cyndi Bellerose on Feb 23, 2007 15:37:32 GMT -5
Hello, I am new to this site and just want to say...way to go! I'm so glad this site was started up. Thank you! As a concerned parent of a child who rides a CPS bus to and from school for the first time ever in his life, I have to express my disappointment in the lack of communication and response to a potentially dangerous situation I and another parent have attempted to report to CPS. Although the other parent did receive a quick e-mail from Mr. Cabot on 2/22/06 simply stating that the superintendent is addressing our concerns, we have not seen any change as of yet. Our complaint isn't directly weather related as our concerns are about safety anytime of the year. Our concerns are as follows: The bus my child rides arrives late to the bus stop most every morning...from 5 minutes late to 30 minutes late and just recently, after waiting 40 minutes for its arrival, I resorted to driving stranded kids to their school. The following day, the driver told the kids that she didn't arrive the previous morning due to a busing accident...as you read on, you might understand why this particular driver might have been involved in an accident. Although the consistently late arrival of the morning bus is a concern and quite annoying, there are other concerns that worry me more and should be of great concern to CPS. The morning bus driver conducts on-going cell phone conversations while driving through city streets and on the freeway. Not only do I feel this is unsafe, but The Ohio Department of Education also deems this as unsafe according to The Ohio Pupil Transportation Operation & Safety Rules found in the Ohio Administrative Code 3301-83. Document can be found at this web address: www.cpscomplaints.com/pupiltransopoct2004.pdf It is also stated in The Ohio Pupil Transportation Operation & Safety Rules that a bus driver is not to leave the school bus unattended with students on board but that doesn't seem to be a concern for CPS as several parents have reported this rule being violated by my child's bus driver. The morning bus driver leaves her bus with the door wide open and disappears for a break while en route. Meanwhile, children are on board and unsupervised until she returns after several minutes...and remember...the door is wide open for ANYBODY to enter, with the key in the ignition while the bus is still running! Nothing bad has happened yet to the children riding on this route but the potential is there for an accident or an abduction to take place. Why won't the CPS act on this? It's been reported by parents but all we receive is either no reply or a quick e-mail stating that the problem is being addressed...well, it's not being addressed because it is still occurring! CPS...God forbid if something happens to these children on buses with irresponsible drivers, especially after you have been warned! You will have the biggest law suit on your hands and what will you do then? A court of law will not tolerate you ignorance and lack of action which appears as a lack of concern! If the State of Ohio has strict guidelines and rules in place for pupil transportation then ALL drivers should follow the rules and it is CPS's responsibility to oversee and properly implement these rules. |
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