General Wake County Schools discussion (2012/13 school year) (Wade: neighborhoods, elementary schools)

[Starglow]

Originally Posted by des1rees

Anyone else facing this? Since school reopened, it as been dismal. Our bus comes at 8:40...for the last two days it showed up one day at 9am, today it did not show up at all. Boys are usually home by 4p,,,last two says they are getting home after 5 and we are 5 mins away...wonder if this is going to be the trend

My son did not start riding the bus until middle school because it was much farther away. His elementary school was so close like your's that we found it much easier and convenient just to drive him to/from school ourselves and not bother with the bus at all. I know that's not an option for some parents, but the kids don't have to ride the bus just because it's provided for them.

[twingles]

Originally Posted by tmasek73

I guess I grew up in a different era but if I lived 5 minutes from school I would be walking to and from like we did back in the day. They didnt provide bussing where I grew up unless you lived more then a mile away from school. Would certainly cut down on the bus hassles IMHO.

You are only supposed to get a bus here if you live more than 1.5 miles away. However, I know there are buses for kids who are closer, usually because of the nature of the roads they would have to walk on. Still others get one and I can't figure out why (at least at our school). Talk about a waste of money.

[jersey919]

In NJ it's 2 miles for k-8 and 2.5 miles for high school ...... I don't remember any exceptions for the type of road you had to travel - strictly based on distance.
Nor do I remember anyone complaining about it -- that's just the way it was. Frankly I've seen enough comments about 'we live 5 min / half-a-mile' etc to wonder if this isn't part of the problem.....maybe there should be more thought to guidelines for busing.
(I realize I'm setting myself up for some backlash here but obviously system is not working as is so time for some change!)

[librarySue]

I guess my younger could walk to school if there were a crossing guard to help them across Wade Ave...but if that crossing guard service was no more reliable than the bus service, I wouldn't chance it.

As for my high schooler, her walk is 2+ miles, she's done it in a pinch, but it isn't a pedestrian or bike-friendly trip.

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by tmasek73

I guess I grew up in a different era but if I lived 5 minutes from school I would be walking to and from like we did back in the day.

Uphill - both ways. Barefoot. In the snow.

[tmasek73]

Originally Posted by CHTransplant

Uphill - both ways. Barefoot. In the snow.

Of course! <grumpy old man voice> AND WE LIKED IT! </grumpy old man voice>

[twingles]

Originally Posted by jersey919

In NJ it's 2 miles for k-8 and 2.5 miles for high school ...... I don't remember any exceptions for the type of road you had to travel - strictly based on distance.
Nor do I remember anyone complaining about it -- that's just the way it was. Frankly I've seen enough comments about 'we live 5 min / half-a-mile' etc to wonder if this isn't part of the problem.....maybe there should be more thought to guidelines for busing.
(I realize I'm setting myself up for some backlash here but obviously system is not working as is so time for some change!)

Well, one neighborhood I know of that gets a bus is off a road that has no shoulder (none, zip) and I saw a fox running across the road last year. Woods on one side and a field on the other. My DD's classroom had a snake in it a couple of years ago (yes really) and the teacher got it into a box and a parent volunteer who happened to be in the building dumped it in said field, where it probably came from. So I would say despite the fact that this development is RIGHT BEHIND the school, it's not really what you'd call walkable and I don't have a problem with the kids getting a bus. In fact, when I do occasionally see kids walking there I always wonder WTF they are thinking.

[tmasek73]

Originally Posted by twingles

Well, one neighborhood I know of that gets a bus is off a road that has no shoulder (none, zip). So I would say despite the fact that this development is RIGHT BEHIND the school, it's not really what you'd call walkable and I don't have a problem with the kids getting a bus. In fact, when I do occasionally see kids walking there I always wonder WTF they are thinking.

So, they do have this wonderful invention called sidewalks / walking paths. Keeps people from walking on the street. Have they investigated putting one in to connect the neighborhood with the school? When we were walking uphill both ways to school we always had sidewalks. In my opinion they should be mandatory.

[twingles]

Originally Posted by tmasek73

So, they do have this wonderful invention called sidewalks / walking paths. Keeps people from walking on the street. Have they investigated putting one in to connect the neighborhood with the school? When we were walking uphill both ways to school we always had sidewalks. In my opinion they should be mandatory.

Some people really hate sidewalks. When I was growing up in NY, we had no sidewalks where I lived. Always wanted them (not sure why). Then had them when I was an adult and realized they made things look "city-ish" and were prone to buckling and breaking due to tree roots. This road I am talking about is outside the subdivision in question so there's little recourse for them. They are getting a bus, so what do they care?

Now, I walked uphill both ways to HS in NY, and across the frozen tundra of the football field to boot. I preferred when it iced over so I wouldn't sink into the snow!

[Barli]

Am I the only one who walked uphill both ways, through the snow and freezing rain, 15 miles to school, with holes in my shoes???