Indiana Area School District's "Walking" Policies

My daughter is in 1st grade and where we live she is currently bused to East Pike. We will be moving in the summer and she will now attened Eisenhower. I have been told that because we 'only' live 1.34 miles from the school, she will not be bused and that she will have to walk?!? I'm in shock.

I guess the magical number is anything under 1.5 miles has to walk. I'm totally amazed. I never thought in this day and age that kids that young would be required to walk. I looked online and there are 3 Megans Law violators in the area between our new house and the school! The school district says that the only time the rule doesn't apply is when PennDOT deems it unsafe. Did they ever ask the police what they deem unsafe???

When my daughter started school I received a note from the school that stated because she was in kindergarten an adult had to get her on the bus and get her off. I was impressed with the school because I also think that needs to happen. My question is how does that apply to this situation. My youngest daughter will start school next year. Where is the school districts concern for her? She would have to walk 1.34 miles to school with her then 8 year old sister. That doesn't sound that safe.

Obviously I am not going to let this happen. I will somehow find transportation to the school for my daughter. But why is it my responsibility? Is there anyone out there that has a problem getting thier kids to school safely? Is there anyone out there that also thinks this is a huge problem? Shouldn't it be the school's responsiblity to get kids to school safely?

Oh, here's the kicker in the whole thing. We will live about 300 feet from the East Pike 'line', however we are on the Eisenhower side. My daughter will walk a block up the road and actually pass a bus stop for the bus that took her to East Pike for two years. She is not allowed to get on the bus and remain in East Pike School District through 6 grade. She has to walk past that bus stop and continue walking 1.2 miles to her new school!

I think that Indiana Area School District needs a major overhaul on there busing policy and their 'lines'. I don't think any kids out there should have to walk by a bus that could get them to school safely just because of a 'line' somewhere. If this is a case they should move those 'lines' to where they could most safely get the children to school.

I can't believe in this day and age that children that young are REQUIRED to walk that far to school. I walked that far to school at that age, but that was in the "golden years" of the late 50s and early 60s. To require children that young to walk that far TODAY seems totally unreasonable and not SAFE for them. Could you tell me what the route is like to the school - like would they have to cross any heavy traffic areas?

For a child that young to PASS the bus that took her to school for 2 years seems wrong to me too. And add to that mix, the Meagan's Law violators REALLY makes it bad. Do they have any adult volunteers to chaperone these children on their walk to school? Or are the children expected to walk on their own?

This is NOT what I thought we paid taxes for - to require youngsters to walk that far to school. I had NO IDEA that this was going on. What if something to happened to only one of these children? Would that help them change their policy? Wouldn't that be a HORRIBLE reason to change their policy?....AFTER a small child is hurt?

She would have to cross Philadelphia and I have seen a crossing guard there.

From what I understand from a couple other parents, everyone just makes their own arrangements to get their children to school. That everyone is just to busy working and whatnot to organize anything as far as chaperoning this kids.

Even if that were to occur. I think that is still to far to walk to school. Can you imagine if it was pouring rain or snowing. You can't count on everyone to keep their sidewalks clear. Especially that early in the morning when people are getting ready for work themselves.

OMG I had no idea that they would make elementary aged kids walk to schoool - especially that distance. Surely something could be done about that. It just doesn't make any sense.

That is an absolute shame that they would make a K-garden student walk that distance in this day and age.

Don't they understand that parents have to work two jobs and may not have the time to run their kids to school at a certain time everyday.

I wonder if we get enough people together and enough information about this topic, if we should go to the school board with this complaint?

You really should think about taking this complaint to the school board. I read this note a short while ago and wanted to check back in to see what thoughts were out there now. I did not even think about the winter season... a small child is very hard to see in blizzard conditions... slippery roads... FRIGHTENING! I had a similar experience happen here in OH with my daughter in 1st grade being told she had to walk a half mile down the street. It was a very busy street and both my husband and I would walk her down. After she boarded the bus and we walked home, the bus driver noticed us walking back.... THe next morning she asked which house we lived in and when we told her, she told us she would pick her up and drop her off in front of our house. We were very lucky! I can totally relate to your anger and frustration as well as the desire to do what's best for your children. I think you should fight for your daughter to see if she can stay at her current school since she is already established there, if not then at least see if they can move the bus stop. I wish you luck... please keep us posted!

I found some information about a walking school bus program AND the not so funny part is the routes are no more than 1 mile long. Unfortunately my daughters route is 1.34 miles long.

http://www.iasd.cc/Walking%20School%20Bus_EIS...

R U serious? Young kids have to walk over a mile a day to get to school??? Kindergarten age too? I just can't believe it. And here the school thinks they are going to do something good with a walking school bus but it doesn't even apply to your kids because THEY have to walk to far! Amazing!!! I wish you well, you certainly need to press forward and get this changed.

The more info you post on the walking/bus policy and the walking school bus, the less it makes sense. Why limit the walking school bus to those that live 1 mile or less...thereby making kids that have to walk even further which exposes to them to even more harm, walk alone?

Can't believe what I'm reading here. Find it hard to believe that in these times where children go missing - one child in Pittsburgh assaulted recently - that policies like your school's still exist. When they deemed the walking route "safe", were the Meagan's Law violators considered?

Concerned Mom wrote:

I found some information about a walking school bus program AND the not so funny part is the routes are no more than 1 mile long. Unfortunately my daughters route is 1.34 miles long.
http://www.iasd.cc/Walking%20School%20Bus_EIS...

What can you do abouth something like this?

You know one of the funny things about this is that i actually picked my daughter up from school the other day. As we were pulling out, I was behind a bus that actually stopped at the entrance to the driveay of the school to drop off a girl that lived across the street. I could not believe it. They actually bused a girl from the building itself to the entrance to the school, (not even a tenth of a mile) but they won't pick up a 6 year old that lives a mile and a half away.

Now THAT'S interesting. I wonder how they justify that?

Do the school buses have room on them or they completely filled? Is there enough room on the busses that are running to pick up kids that might live "within the walking distance" without overfilling the busses that are already on the road? It’s already been stated that a bus that your daughter was on going to East Pike passes close to the house you will be moving to, how close is a bus stop for Eisenhower?

The Dad wrote:

You know one of the funny things about this is that i actually picked my daughter up from school the other day. As we were pulling out, I was behind a bus that actually stopped at the entrance to the driveay of the school to drop off a girl that lived across the street. I could not believe it. They actually bused a girl from the building itself to the entrance to the school,(not even a tenth of a mile) but they won't pick up a 6 year old that lives a mile and a half away.

I wouldn't let my kids walk 2 blocks by themselves, let alone 1.5 miles. I don't think my children would be safe walking anyhwhere by themselves.

How can the school district demand that someone be at the bus stop for children in Kindergarten, then turn around and say that children in Kindergarten can walk 1.5 miles to school?

I checked into this myself and found out that this policy has been in effect for 20 years. One would think that after 20 years, a policy such as this one, would have been looked at again and revised to reflect the times we live in today.

I hope that they look into this before something happens to an Indiana school child. The lawsuits that would result from this and what they might have to pay out would alone pay for a complete new fleet of school buses to change this policy. The bussing policy is long overdue for an overhaul.

Let us know when you plan on going to the school board on this so more of us can attend and voice our concerns.

I have watched little ones walking to school and I am always worried about them. I hope you are successful in your efforts to change this.

Not only did my sister and I have to walk to school,(approx 1-2 miles) but my mother sent us to school a year early just to get us out of the house. Of course this was 35 years ago but still...

In this day and age there is no excuse for this. Perhaps if you sat down with the principle...

I guess if they let one get away with it they would be bussing all the kids then.

Good Luck to you!

not only should u b worried about walking to school but also about what u pay for school lunch and what is really served includeing the snacks that are sold for a high price parents need to look into this is highway robbery

Hi- we have a great walking program in our schools, but the school board policy is for k-5= 1 mile and further is bussed except for dangerous street crossings or traffic situtations; 1/5 mile for 6-8 and 9-12 2 miles. We have found that kids love to walk and bike, BUT they need to be taught safety rules, always walk with a group and in K-3 or k-4 depending on their maturity- they should have an adult with them. Kids love the walk time before and after school- its great social building time, they arrive at school ready to learn and awake. This reduces traffic at schools which has found that most of the accidents around schools are from parents driving & speeding too - scary ah? Walking is a normal thing and great for some family time too. A normal child can walk 1 mile in 15 minutes or less. Promote walking groups & carpooling & speed limits and you will have a better & more healthy and active community. Look up safe routes to school- a great program with great ideas! Good luck and work with your school to change that distance policy to a more age appropriate one.

Maybe look into WHY east pike students are buses just over the hill on east pike road. I noticed this when I was behind a bus that just pulled out of east pike school.