Alabama public schools are only required to pick up students if they are disabled or live outside of a 2-mile radius of their zoned school. This leaves some students crossing busy highways, or stepping through train cars stalled on the tracks. Via WBHM:
On a chilly morning in January, she bundles her kids up in thick coats, hats and gloves before they start their walk on Birmingham’s east side. Her kids Brandon and Kaleb are 10 and 6, respectively. Brandon, a 4th grader, says he looks forward to P.E. It motivates him as he braves the 35-degree weather, which might as well be glacial in Alabama.
“So it’d be nice if we had a bus that came through this area, picking up all the kids that needs to go to Hayes,” Taylor said. “That will be really nice for every parent.” Wiggins is from the area where Hayes students live. He said he understands the struggles parents may have walking to school because he did it himself.
“We have been faced with chronic absenteeism for years, and I continue to say …. And I’ll say it until I can’t say it anymore — it’s not 100% the students fault,” Wiggins said. “I think buses or things like that can really, really assist not just the attendance or paperwork here at Hayes, but students getting to school will be safer. I think parents will be comfortable. It’ll eliminate so many challenges that they face just by giving us a couple of buses.
A nationwide bus driver shortage makes a solution even harder to find. The district has held recruitment events to attract more drivers but it hasn’t been that fruitful. In Birmingham, they currently have 125 buses, but only 108 bus drivers.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alabama Power to refund customers $62 million - Alabama NewsThere’s no word yet on how much customers will receive as part of that refund.
Read more »
Stallions’ USFL schedule features 6 games in BirminghamBoth the Birmingham USFLStallions and the New Orleans USFLBreakers will play their games in ProtectiveStdm this year. 🐴 🏈 Here's what the schedule looks like for the reigning USFL champions 🏆:
Read more »
USFL 2023: 4 cities hosting games this season; here’s the complete scheduleDetroit, Memphis, Birmingham, Alabama, and Canton, Ohio, will host regular season games during the USFL’s second season, which starts April 15.
Read more »
A few strong storms possible Wednesday night in AlabamaAn approaching weather system could bring severe storms to parts of west Alabama from Wednesday night into Thursday. A tornado or two and wind gusts up to 60 mph will be possible with the strongest storms. Stay weather aware, and see the link for more ➡️
Read more »
ADEM: Alabama landfill fire shows ‘no discernable impact’ on water quality“Fortunately, what we have seen so far tells us the fire is having little impact on water quality,' Jeff Kitchens, chief of ADEM’s Water Division, said. Water test results are on the website for the Moody fire. Links to that and air results are here:
Read more »
Neal Posey named new head football coach at Saint James - Alabama NewsPosey is replacing Jimmy Perry, who announced his retirement recently.
Read more »