My boys are in 1st grade and in special ed class about 1/2 of the day. Because of this, they can not go to our neighborhood home school, because it does not have the support they need. Therefore, I have to take them and pick them up from school. The school they currently go to is where they went to preschool, so I have just kept them there for Kindergarten and 1st Grade. But this year we have ran into quit a few situations where it has been really hard to have someone to pick them up. My husband usually picks them up, but when he has to work overtime, he can not. Then I have to pick them up, the problem with this is I do daycare at home and often times have to many kids to go pick them up. Once they get home I am here, it's just getting them here that is the problem. So, there is a school that has their level of support that the school district would bus them too. My delima is they have been with their current s.e. teacher for 2 years, they know her and she knows them. They have friends at this school and seem to really like it there. If I move them, I really am not to fond of the teacher at the new school. They went to summer school there and I got to meet her then. But, maybe just because I really didn't get to know her all that well, she just seemed kind of arrogant and snobbish to me. The boys would have someone they are not familiar with and who is not familiar with them. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to be selfish and put them in a new school just because it would be more confenent for me. But, it sure would be nice not to worry how they are going to get to and home from scool. What do you think? What would you do?
I would fight to get busing from their current school. If their home school cannot meet their needs, they are required to provide transportation to the school that does meet their needs.
I would probably fight for busing, but I wonder if the answer would be to send them to the other school with the busing already in place where you're not as sure of the teacher. What did your boys think of the teacher for summer school? She would not be a totally new teacher for them. They have experience with her. See if they remember her and what they thought of her. Honestly for me, I think things working together for smoothness for a family is very important. It sounds like your life as a family would be easier and less stressful if transportation was in place. Marissa
My daughter currently attends the pre-school program run by the schools due to special ed issues. The twins attended there too. It is not housed in our neighborhood school, so they always provided busing for us. The bus comes right to the door. Sharon is right, you should call and look into that. It is required if they can not meet their needs where they would normally go to school. I just re-read your post and realized that they school district does have another school that they would bus them to that would support their needs. If that is the case and you don't feel comfortable with that school, than you are right, you are kind of stuck. Is there any way you can see if there is a parent that currently picks up her kids that could bring yours home? You could even pay them a little for gas.
I agree with this post. You might be able to find someone, another parent or just someone who wants to make an easy buck, who might be willing to pick up your kids for a small fee on a regular basis. I think good teachers make a HUGE difference for kids and if you have a teacher who you think is good, I'd do everything I can to keep the kids with her. (Especially if your impression of the other teacher was not so good.)
This was my thought as well. Maybe there are a few sahm in your area that would be willing to sort of be "on call" in case your dh can't get there. My twin dd is in preK for speech and I would do whatever it took to keep her with her current teacher. Things to make family life a little easier are wonderful, but not at the expense of the child's school experience. If there is any way at all to keep them where they are, I would do my best to do that for them. Is there an aftercare program at that school? Maybe that would be an option so that your dh has more time to pick them up. I worked in a county aftercare for a few years prekids and they had one on one companions they could assign for special needs children. Not sure if your boys would need that though. Good luck finding a solution that is best for everyone!
