Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/58727
I consider myself a counselor, a second mother and a friend who takes them to and from school." VICKEY JOHNSON Imogene "Vickey" Johnson always has a smile and a kind word behind the wheel in Redlands. cut in their isolated community, which encompasses 773 square miles for 772 students. The tiny school district made a lot of noise and received a lot of media atten- tion when it came to making a case for buses. The school community is hopeful that the layoff notices issued to 11 transportation workers will be rescinded. "It was a really effective protest," says Les- lie Yale, a South Fork High School teacher and member of the South Humboldt Teach- ers Association (SHTA), who traveled to the Capitol for the event. "We paid a visit to our legislators, including Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro and Senator Noreen Evans." Two school buses caravanned for the protest. "It would be devastating in many ways for the rural whom travel an hour or more each way." If the buses stop rolling, says Sauer, many families would opt for homeschooling or independent study. The district, she fears, could cease to exist. According to the school secretary, six parents moved their children out of the district because they were worried bus ser- vice would end. Students were celebrating the news that buses would continue, and were delighted that they were able to play a role in the reversal of transportation cuts. "It would have been very hard for me, Aletta Sauer because I ride the bus two hours each way to get to school," says eighth-grader Fawna Meeks. "If they eliminated buses, I would probably have to go to independent study, because my mom is sick and not able to drive me. We wouldn't have enough money for gas. community if there were cuts to school transportation," says fellow South Fork teacher and SHTA member Aletta Sauer. "It would cause a tremendous increase in traffic on our country roads, which are narrow, winding and steep with no stoplights. There's a lot of poverty, and many of our parents don't own vehicles that are capable of making drives like that regularly, up and down the mountain, or have time in their workday to drive their children, some of It would really be a big deal, because kids our age need to interact with other kids, and it would prevent a lot of kids from being able to go to school." "It would also be hard on me," says Drew Yates, also in eighth grade. "Without buses, I would be homeschooled. I would definitely like to see the buses stay." Student safety is jeopardized "I tell every child to have a blessed day — not just a good day," says Imogene "Vickey" Johnson. "I am not just 24 California Educator / March 2012