The Driver on the Bus Says...

"Good luck, preschooler, crossing the parking lot without getting hit by cars! Peace out!"

I've got a bone to pick with a Marana School District transportation protocol breech.

Or what I assume was a breech, if it wasn't, it will be reason 5,682 that I'm not sending my kids into the public education system once they reach kindergarten.

(I know that there are amazing, wonderful teachers in public ed. It's the system that's lacking)

Tenley attends the PEEC program at a local elementary school for developmentally challenged preschoolers.

It really is a WONDEFUL program, I adore her teacher, and we are VERY grateful that through the state, Tenley can attend. 

They offer curb to curb bus transportation through the district.

I was assured by many that these little tykes love riding the big yellow school bus like big kids, and although it made my stomach turn, I agreed to let Tenley ride the bus home everyday where it would meet me at the curb of our complex.

They were right, Tenley LOVES THE BUS.

I've never really been able to depend on a solid five minute window of time in which to meet the bus, so I head to the curb with Scarlett fairly early and usually end up waiting a long time for Tenley.

The bus driver won't pull into the complex and it's a million and one degrees in the afternoon here, so I wait in the nearest shaded parking spot with the stroller and let Scarlett walk on the shaded grass area while we look out for the bus.

Last week I saw the bus approaching so I scooped up Scarlett and started buckling her into the stroller before I wheeled us over to meet the bus.

As I'm buckling I here that compressed air noise of the bus door shutting and driving off.

Oh no! Did the bus driver not see me?

I look up to see the bus driving away and Tenley just running through the parking lot.

Three year old, Tenley.

SPECIAL NEEDS, RIDES A SPECIAL BUS, DOESN'T UNDERSTAND DANGER: 

TENLEY!

The bus driver circles back around after I've buckled Tenley in the stroller and am furiously rummaging through my bag to find the number to Marana Schools Transportation. She leans out the window to "make sure Tenley made it, ok"

LADY! She is three years old! You don't just toss them into a parking lot and cross your fingers while driving off!

Have you lost it?!

 If you wanted to make sure she was ok, then WHY DIDN'T THE AID HOLD TENLEY'S HAND UNTIL I CAME TO HOLD HER HAND LIKE SHE IS SUPPOSED TO!

Are ya kidding me?!

Or at the very least not driven off until you knew she is safe.

The driver told me I needed to fill out a form that stated that need.

You've. Got. To. Be. Kidding.

A form that says a three year old doesn't get to cross the street alone?

Is that not common sense?!

They will be HEARING from me!

Mama Bear is AWAKE AND ANGRY!