Back and forth back and forth. I'm SICK OF IT!

[Concerned Columbus Parent]

From: [hidden]
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:42:48 EST
Subject: Re: What do you think?
To: [e-mail]

I think that sounds great! I can't wait to hear what [hidden] has to say about sidewalks. Unfortunately, my situation is just getting worse. [hidden] started at [hidden] and at first she was terrified, but now she really likes it!

I'm happy about that, but the bus situation continues. The school says I have to contact transportation about seeing if they will stop at [hidden street name] to pick her up. Transportation says no, [hidden charter school name] doesn't fall within the umbrella of Columbus Public Schools, so they aren't responsible. They said the school has to put in a request for them to pick her up at [hidden street name] instead of [hidden street name]. The school says NO, we don't have any control over that, transportation does.

Back and forth back and forth. I'm SICK OF IT! [hidden] has no way to school tomorrow because I'll be in [hidden location] being admitted to the hospital for the weekend (at least). I would be here to put her on the bus and her dad would be getting her from the bus, but we can't if she can't ride the bus! Of course if she doesn't go to school they will send children's services to my door after a few days and it's NOT my fault! I'm not going to make my daughter walk in the street to catch a bus that will be passing by her anyways and could stop right there to get her!

Transportation told me this morning that it is MY responsibility to go to the stop and ask the driver if they will pick her up! It's just ridiculous and so frustrating. I don't know what else to do. They said they can't help it that we live in Ohio and the weather gets bad, they don't even consider making any exceptions during bad weather.

I will keep an eye out for [hidden] announcement and keep trying to get some results here. [hidden name of CPS employee] is supposed to be calling me today, but they didn't call me back yesterday so I'm not holding my breath!

Have a good day!
[hidden]


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Moderator's Note: When we receive an email from a Columbus area parent or a private message via one of the other avenues we set up, I will protect their identifying & location info with [hidden] in the email and post them hereon the board. Note that I have added emphasis/color to parts that document dangerous situations to students and emphasis/color to parts that document the runaround that concerned parents get when trying to remedy their students situations with CPS or other officials. Stay tuned, the emails keep coming in!
~~~~~

[Concerned Columbus Parent]

From: [hidden]
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:14:44 EST
Subject: follow up
To: [e-mail]

This is a follow up to the situation regarding my daughter's transportation to school. I was told by the school yesterday that I had to speak to transportation. I called and was told I needed to speak to [hidden CPS employee she'd never spoken with before]. I spoke to him and he took my information, told me he would call me back by the end of the day. That call was never received.

I called CPS customer relations today to try and get some resolution. I was told that they would forward my information to one of their coordinators and would get back to me in 7 to 10 business days.

It's not that I don't know they have other issues to deal with but exactly what am I supposed to do in the meantime??? Then I mentioned that I had spoken to [hidden CPS employee #1] three weeks ago in regards to this issue and was quickly put on hold. Ten or fifteen minutes later I was told that I needed to speak to [hidden CPS employee #1] but she was on a conference call. I left a message requesting a call back to discuss my daughter's bus transportation.

Just a short while ago I finally got the call back from her. She told me that my daughter is not listed in their database for transportation, even though I had filled out the paperwork at her school for it more than 3 weeks ago. [moderator's note: CPS picked up my child AT THE SAME BUS STOP, GOING TO THE SAME SCHOOL FROM MARCH-JUNE last year AND they are STILL picking up kids AT that stop TO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL THIS YEAR as far as i can tell - easy to spot because of the school uniforms!]

Please note I was told that ANY child within Columbus Public Schools district is eligible for transportation to the school she is attending, but customer relations at CPS states that because she attends a charter school, they are not considered to be within the umbrella of Columbus Public Schools. [hidden CPS employee #1] said that even if my daughter was in their database, that she is not eligible for transportation!

After already being pushed back and forth from one person to the next, with no resolution, my frustrations are mounting.

Transportation told me I had to make the request for transportation to school through the school, and I had already done so. The school told me no, that they had no control over it and sent me back to talk to Transportation, which again, did not call me back.

While I did speak to Transportation, I was told that they would check into things, but that ultimately, everything is decided by CPS which lead me back to calling them, again. There is a bus stop 2 blocks from my home where there are children picked up every day that are taken to the very same school my daughter goes to, as well as children from as far as Parsons Avenue, yet for some reason suddenly my daughter is ineligible?

When I questioned [hidden employee #1] about why she is not eligible she had no answer and told me that maybe the children that are picked up at the stop I mentioned are "special education" students. Exactly how does that play into my daughters right for transportation to school???

I cannot tell you how much this situation has been weighing on my mind and is a constant daily concern. THIS should not be happening! I am so sick and tired of being sent from person to person and reaching dead ends.

[hidden #1] told me that she needs to speak to [hidden CPS employee that was ORIGINALLY on the phone with this mom during this same phone call] at Transportation and said that she will call me back, which has yet to happen, again. It seems like they are willing to listen when you present your concerns to them, but they certainly do not show any interest in helping find a resolution.

I will let you know what happens, or if I do hear back from her. I'm not holding my breath though.

A seriously concerned parent,
[hidden]


~~~~~
Moderator's Note: When we receive an email from a Columbus area parent or a private message via one of the other avenues we set up, I will protect their identifying & location info with [hidden] in the email and post them hereon the board. Note that I have added emphasis/color to parts that document dangerous situations to students and emphasis/color to parts that document the runaround that concerned parents get when trying to remedy their students situations with CPS or other officials. Stay tuned, the emails keep coming in!
~~~~~

[Seriously concerned parent]

Shortly after speaking with the woman I spoke to at CPS that said she would call back, I got a call from the man at transportation said to be over "everything". She had asked HIM to call me back. Problem is, the first thing he said was that he does not handle bus routes for Charter Schools, so exactly what did she think he was going to be able to do for me? He told me that the woman that takes care of the Charter School routes had been on another assignment for a few days and would have to ADD my daughter to the system before she could ride the bus to school. When I asked him about what the woman at CPS had told me about my daughter not being eligible for transportation all he could say was "That's false information". Funny how I get a different story every time I call and it seems to me like they are passing the buck more than addressing the issues and finding resolutions. I actually broke down while out of town at the hospital and luckily had a friend that helped me get back to town, because of course, my daughter has NO way to school yet other than me taking her. I certainly hope that they will stop pushing me from one person to another soon and finding a resolution to this matter so my daughter can get to school on the bus without all of these problems. I will post again IF I hear anything more from CPS.

[Concerned Columbus Parent]

oh my Lord, i am SO sorry you have to go through all this. all i can say is...it's crap. keep coming back and documenting until you get this worked out.

i'll help you be heard in any way that i can, you've got my number. it wouldn't be the first time i was called persistent, tenacious...or annoying for that matter

[Concerned Parent]

Well.. after countless phone calls and numerous conversations with CPS and transportation, I finally have resolution! YIPPEEEEE!
I got the call Wednesday that someone had finally been out to my area to "check into" my daughters bus stop condition, and they agreed that for her safety, she should be picked up at our drive instead of the haul to the one down the street where she has to walk in traffic to get to it. It was a long ugly battle but I am thankful that it is finally settled! I do hope that others dealing with the same situations are able to find resolution as well. I feel that this web site was a tremendous help and I am endlessly thankful that it is here! Thank you so much. I will continue to support those trying to fight for the safety of their children getting to school.

Sincerely,
A concerned parent