By Natalie Froistad for 21 News, KQDS-DT
Photo by Harry Baker:
Getting on a school bus is a daily routine for most Superior school students, but some parents are up in arms about the distance their kids have to walk to school.
There is a Wisconsin state statute for all school districts that mandates if a child lives two or more miles away from school, they have the option of taking the bus.
However, if a student lives any closer, they need to find their own ride.
“It’s just really sad. That is too far for little kids to walk,” said Carmen Keeler, who has a grandchild in kindergarten.
Keeler says it has been a hardship on her daughter with a child in kindergarten who has to walk almost two miles to school every day.
“She is on maternity leave right now because she has a four-week-old baby. She also has a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and she has had to buckle the kids up in the stroller and walk them to school and back,” explained Keeler.
The only way someone who lives closer than two miles can ride the bus if they live in what’s defined as an unusually hazardous area.
“The age of the pupil, lack of sidewalks, lack of a crossing guard, lack of law enforcement in the area, railroad crossing,” explained Superior School District Superintendent Janna Stevens.
Keeler has been calling the Superior School Board and the state to try to make a change.
“I feel that two miles or even beyond is too far for elementary students to walk because of the traffic, the weather we get in the Northland, there’s lots of reasons, the age,” said Keeler.
When asked if it would be difficult to change the rule in Superior, Stevens said it would be impossible.
But the state does allow school districts to change the rules if they want to.
Still, Stevens says there’s just not enough funding to do that here.
“So, until funding changes from the state, to try to go beyond what the statute is, is frankly not feasible in our district,” said Stevens.
Stevens suggests carpooling with neighbors or attending a before-and-after-school program.
Keeler is not giving up. She plans on starting a petition to present to the school board.
“I know this rule has been in play for many years, but it’s time to change,” said Keeler.
Keeler tells FOX 21 she’ll take all the help she can get. If you’d like to contact her, her phone number is: 218-590-7185.
