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The groups have been working together since the beginning of September and their main goal at the moment is to reinstate bussing for those students that are being affected. About 100 people have shown interest in the group and an average of 25-30 people attend meetings on a regular basis.
District Superintendent Scott Scambray claims that the district is having very difficult financial problems. According to Scambray, cutting the buses would be saving the district around $1.1 million per year.
[pullquote_right]When I interviewed Enid Picart, she informed me that CRLA sent a Letter of Intent to the school district, urging them to resolve the school transportation issue. Enid says the reason for the letter was to “make it aware to the school district that they are affecting students by taking away a safe way to school.”[/pullquote_right]
When I interviewed Enid Picart, she informed me that CRLA sent
a Letter of Intent to the school district, urging them to resolve the school transportation issue. Enid says the reason for the letter was
to “make it aware to the school district that they are affecting students by taking away a safe way to school.” She also told me that all students should be treated equally and should have the right to equal access to education. The letter was sent on November 13th and Enid says she expects a response from the district soon and depending on what the response is, further steps may be taken, including litigation.
The November MUHSD board meeting hosted at Buhach Colony High School was the first time
the Walk Your Talk group and concerned residents were able to put the transportation issue officially on the agenda. As I entered Buhach’s library, I saw many of my ex-principals and some school staff too. The room was filled with concerned parents worried their children’s safety and students worried about their future. I also saw the local news branch of Univision there. Everyone gathered around the board members as soon as the session started.
When the agenda came to the transportation issue, I thought that the board members seemed a little distant. Tatiana Vizcaino- Stewart, the Hub Manager for Building Healthy Communities, spoke first and introduced the issue to the members. Steven Walters, a concerned parent and member of Walk Your Talk said, “my family and I are willing to work things out [with the district] in order to find a safe route to school.”
Mr. Walters’ daughter, Misty Walters, a 16-year-old high school student from Merced High, has experienced unsafe situations as she and a friend waited for the public bus at the depot on 16th Street. She said a man who was acting very strangely asked to use her friend’s cellphone. With fear, they handed the phone not knowing who he was. Fortunately nothing happened but Misty was still scared. I also spoke with John Cardenas, President of the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and father to a Buhach High student. He shared with me how his daughter has to get up as early as 5:30 am to catch the bus to Buhach. To make matters worse, she gets there well before school starts and he has no way of knowing that she is safe.
