- Home
- News
- Opinion
- Letters
- Sports
- Prospecting
- Essentials
- Obituaries
- Real Estate
- Comics
- Gallery
- Classifieds
- Advertisers
- Coupons
- Contact Us
Share Article
488
728488728
EDITOR:
Today I went down to pay for my children’s bus fees at their district’s transportation office. I will not name the district but only to say that this district is in this county and has already shut down one of their schools. My wife and I need the bus to transport our children in the afternoons because of work and logistics. In the morning we are able to provide our own transportation to their schools.
For the past six years we have done this where we paid for the bus only in the afternoon because we did not need the morning run. The district offered in the past annual, semi-annual, one way and even daily passes. Furthermore, if a family had more than one child they were offered a multi-child discount. Today, however, I was shockingly surprised that not only could we not pay for just one way but there was no longer multi-child discounts. Look, I don’t mind paying my fair share but when I’m paying for a service (in this case one-way transportation but having to pay the full fare of two-way transportation, not to mention having two children, which in the past would have granted us a discount), and I find out through the superintendent that over 50 percent of the bus riders’ families don’t pay a dime, that is disturbing. During the conversation I was told that this is a fair way to charge their riders based on the fact that the bus was already running routes morning or afternoon and that basically it did not matter if the child was on either, but would still have to pay as if they were. How is this fair when you’re paying for a service but having to pay twice what it would normally cost?
It would be like the Mountain Democrat saying we are going to increase our rates and we are going to eliminate our Monday and Wednesday editions but you still have to pay for those as if they were there. The superintendent told me that the district was facing extreme budget shortfalls and that the school board had decided that this new structure was the best and fair for all. How is it fair when folks like ourselves have to continually pay more for less and see others reap the benefits of our hard work? After a lengthy discussion with the super, he told me honestly that your “children’s rates are going up to help pay for those who don’t.” He was sincere and I appreciated his honesty but things have to change.
In my opinion everyone has to have an equal share and stake in the district and if that means that you can only afford to pay $10, $20 or $30 a year for your child’s transportation or school lunches, so be it because it is better than a big fat zero. If the state is giving the school X amount of dollars for busing and every year the school has to pull dollars out of the general fund to make up for the loss, then the answer seems pretty clear. Cut the program. We can’t keep upping the cost of those who pay. I’m not a cruel-hearted person and completely understand that these are hard times, but why must we keep shouldering the costs? Unless the district’s policies change, two things will come about from our household. First, we will not pay for the bus, which means even further losses and second in November, we will not be voting for any kind of tax increase. As the old saying goes, “you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip” and I’m getting pretty close to being a turnip.
ED MCDOWELL
El Dorado
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
DarrinAugust 13, 2012 - 12:16 pm
It seems like most families can pay for the service not matter what financial difficulties they face. It they can not pay 100 dollars for the year, what about 10 dollar a month. What a bargain for your kids to get safely to and from school. I would be willing to bet half those who don't pay sit at home on the dole, smoking cigarettes.
John LemosAugust 24, 2012 - 4:44 am
My wife and I paid the bus fees when we lived in El Dorado County. From the comments about the school that was closed, I'm quite confident it was the same district. In fact, it was our grand kids' school (Charles Brown) that was closed. Due to a job relocation, we now live in the great state of Oklahoma. What a breath of fresh air! Smaller class sizes, better teachers and guess what? No bus fees! That's right. Just like in the days before California liberal big government decided it was more important to appease the giant unions (CTA, CCPOA, CAHP and many others), this state actually uses most of its tax dollars to fund the schools. They don't waste it all on administration "costs" and ridiculous union pensions that pay as much after state workers retire as they earned when they worked. Is it any wonder California businesses and much of the general population are fleeing California?
JenniferAugust 24, 2012 - 4:59 pm
My kids go to both Herbert Green and Indian Creek and up until this year, they took the bus which we paid for. This year however we got the rude awakening of the increased cost and decided not to do it for the same reasons Mr. McDowell stated above. Shame on those work the system and not pay one red cent when I know they could at least afford a few bucks a month. Instead it us taxpayers who constantly pick up the tap and then some.
AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 - 1:39 pm
If it's MotherLode Union School District, they just bought a new 2012 bus! In times like these, with budgets so bad, how dare they buy a 2012 brand new bus. Not to mention in El Dorado County, teachers are not drug tested and other school employees are not drug tested. Only Bus drivers are drug tested and that's because CHP does it. The future of our children is in the hands of complete druggies on a daily basis.
JenniferAugust 25, 2012 - 3:41 pm
@anonymous. Are you kidding me. They bought a new bus. This just sends me off the edge. What was wrong with bus they replaced. Could the superintendent please respond to this. I would prefer him over the jerk at the head of transportation at Mother Lode. My kids are not riding this year and those that don't pay are riding in a brand new bus. Please tell me this is not true.
AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 - 4:20 pm
I'm not joking. It's #11 and it has not been used as it is awaiting CHP certification. I'm not joking about the drug testing either. It's legal for them to NOT drug test under education code 45125. They do fingerprinting which alerts them as soon as a crime is committed. Do you realize how many people commit crimes and never get caught? Do you realize that this county is notorious for drug abuse both street drugs and prescription medications? It's nuts!
JenniferAugust 25, 2012 - 5:30 pm
So let me get this straight. The bus drivers are drug tested but not the teachers. I'm third generation EDC and I have to get finger printed every year, just so I can go on my kids field trips and help in their classes.
AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 - 6:03 pm
Teachers, janitors, superintendents, you name it (except bus drivers) are not drug tested. That is exactly why they are spending the budget on a new bus and giving the bill to people like you. If you don't believe me, call and ask them. That is how I found all of this out. They don't advertise it to the public, but they will tell you if you ask them. The schools in El Dorado county are filled with uncaught thieves, druggies, child molesters, murderers, etc. The system is corrupt and they like it that way so they can get awesome paychecks and the whole summer off. They continue to spend on whatever they want and give the parents the bill, blaming it on the economy when in fact it is just bad people doing a lot of bad spending.
Linda ParhamAugust 26, 2012 - 12:08 pm
I am 7th generation from El Dorado County, but we moved to Wyoming seven years ago. We have free bus transportation for ALL students. This includes all sports teams and we travel all over Wyoming and Montana in winter. All teachers, administrators, and staff are randomly drug tested during the year (without notice), we pay no state income tax and our sales tax is 4%. Four brand new schools have been built in our county in the past five years and we have an average of 16 students per classroom. Oh, and we are a RED state! It sure appears that liberals have ruined California.
Phil veerkampAugust 26, 2012 - 12:25 pm
Thanks for rubbing it in, Linda! Ya got room for some more refugees? - Phil & Marian
Corey WardAugust 26, 2012 - 1:17 pm
Hello Mrs. Parham. Long time no talk. You got me beat by two generations. When I went to school with Lance,Todd, and Eric, we did not have to deal with this bologna. And speaking of the local sports programs, every weekend you can go out and find at least a half dozen different school sports having a car wash, bake sale, spaghetti feed, etc to help pay for their sport. Again none of this was present when I was a kid. I do have one question however, why does this county need so many school districts. I'm getting sick and tired of this welfare state and we are seeing the result. Case in point, you and Gary, life long EDC residents, gone, had enough. Take care Linda. And if you guys ever decide to come visit the liberal state in the union give us a call.
Henry YbrightAugust 26, 2012 - 6:27 pm
God Bless California. Where else could you find all of these services free of charge. To Mr. Longhofer and all your other liberal bleeding hearts, job well done!