Bring back free after-school busing

By Robin Blount, Davenport | Monday, August 14, 2006

Davenport School District’s choice to begin charging for bussing children to the Davenport YMCA After School Care Program if they do not qualify for free or reduced lunches is wrong.

My children are too young to walk home or stay home alone until I get home after work. They attend a Davenport elementary that has not had or been able to support an after-school care program as many schools in the area do. Out of only three options identifiable in our area, the Y was our only safe, affordable choice.

As a working parent without the benefit of governmental assistance, I will now have to pay a $280 increase for my children to have some place safe and dependable after school, creating a very significant increase in what was anticipated or budgeted for and making the Y no longer an affordable choice. Meanwhile, children qualifying for free or reduced lunches ride to wherever at no charge. I can’t risk my job by missing work to transport my children from school; I can’t lose my job or afford a lesser job that would allow me to be home. Davenport School District is forcing me to suffer consequences for being a caring, responsible adult by initiating these fees.

This additional financial burden is discriminatory when no sufficient alternatives have been provided, and doesn’t promote the interest, safety and care of children. Davenport Schools need to make affordable, dependable options for care consistently available at ALL schools or bus ALL children freely.

Robin Blount

Davenport