Buses are an equity issue: in music

 Last spring, Jefferson County Schools in Kentucky (the district that includes Louisville) announced that they'd be cutting bus service this past fall for schools that were not the schools of the students' residence. Two parents took the district to court. Even with those cuts, the district still didn't have enough drivers for this fall.

One group of students protested the decision in a more musical fashion:

This was just brought to my attention this week, and it was too good not to share! I also cannot find any further updates; let me know if you do. 

Those also serve who drive the bus*

Among the cemeteries my family visits each Memorial Day is one which holds the following gravestone:

A granite rectangular gravestone with a curved top bears the name “Lowe” and the image of a school bus.
Visible on the side of the school bus is “R. F. LOWE”**

In the small K-8 district in which I grew up, Mr. Lowe ran the school buses. By “ran” here, I mean he owned, operated, and drove the small fleet of buses that were contracted to the town district. And when he drove as a substitute, however you may have behaved on the bus usually, you behaved yourself. 

A School Committee member Thanksgiving

For those who test the lights and warm up the engines

Before swinging the big yellow buses out into the dawn;

For those who unlock the doors, check the heat and lights,

Opening the school to greet the day;

For those who staff the crosswalk in all weathers,

Red STOP in one hand, beckoning wave with the other;

For those who count out the milks and the fruit and the cereal,

And greet each breakfast eater with a welcome;

For those who ensure the computers work, and the buses run, and the snow gets plowed; 

For those who explain just one more way, just one more time, just one more day; 

For those who come alongside each individual child for the bit more support to get them there;

For those who see the student who is hurting or scared or lost or confused,

And make sure they are not alone but cared for;

For every headache or upset stomach or COVID test or playground collision met with care and concern;

For the perfect next book to read, the right match for job training, the stretch for college, the call for outside support;

For each talk outside of class that traces behavior back to source;

For those who work to improve practice, to create resources, to support those still learning to reach kids;

For every phone answered, every door checked, every tardy student welcomed, every visitor welcomed;

For those who order the materials, process the payroll, pay the bills, file the reports, update the enrollment, plan the bus routes, comply with every regulation and law;

And for those who make sure that all of the above happens;

For anyone who wakes up at 2 am, wondering how to reach that one kid,

And for anyone who wakes up at 2 am, wondering how we can do this all just a bit better;

For every child,

Every day,

For all of this and more, I am grateful. 

Written in memory of WPS School Bus Driver Isaac Beauge, who died last week.