Brandon Twp.- Marie Manion faces a dilemma if the district only offers bus transportation to students? home schools next year.
‘Do I increase the risk of safety and exposure to high school student behaviors that my elementary children observe on a daily basis at school and get busing, or, do I send my children to their existing school, where I know risks of safety are lower and my children observe none of the high school behaviors on a daily basis and have no busing?? she wondered as she addressed the school board during their Jan. 11 meeting.
Manion resides within what was formerly the H.T. Burt Elementary school boundaries. When Oakwood Elementary opened last fall and the elementary school boundaries changed, parents and students were able to choose which school they wanted. Manion’s new home school changed to Harvey Swanson Elementary, but she chose to have her children move over to Oakwood, where the former H.T. Burt Elementary staff transferred. She also had concerns about the alternative high school relocating into the former H.T. Burt Elementary building, adjacent to the Harvey Swanson building.
Her fears were realized, she said, when both Harvey Swanson and what is now known as the H.T. Burt Lifelong Learning Center were locked down Nov. 16 and 17, after alternative high school student Christopher Thompson threatened to kill all the teachers at the school. Thompson was later arraigned on a charge of making a terrorist threat or false report of terrorism and is facing up to 20 years in prison.
‘I had a concern and it came true,? Manion said. ‘Who’s to say this situation won’t repeat??
Manion wants to continue to send her children to Oakwood; however, because she and her husband both work, they need the bus transportation for their children. Superintendent Lorrie McMahon said last month that beginning with the 2010-11 school year, students will be bussed only to the elementary school they are assigned to based on the area in which they reside, in order to save an estimated $12,000 and reduce by 15-20 minutes the longest bus rides. Students would still be able to attend the elementary school of their choice, but if it is not their home school, they would supply their own transportation. On Monday, McMahon said the issue is still being discussed.
‘The district is looking very seriously at not providing transportation for in-district transfers, meaning no transportation for students who don’t attend their homeschool,? she said. ‘It is a likelihood we will not provide it, because it is too costly.?
The board will discuss the matter again at the next board meeting planned for 6:30 p.m., Feb. 8, at the central office, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.