“A couple of years ago, we had maybe five parents
driving. Now, we have five times that,” Jackson said. “Some parents of kids with disabilities feel their kids are safer with them than with a contractor.” Jackson noted McKinney-Vento students can be transported by vendors and monthly fuel cards are provided to parents of students who live outside the district. Foster care students are transported by vendors. Meanwhile, he noted that COVID-19 had little impact
because the district shut down. “When we came back, we had students attending school on alternating days,” he said. “We had McKinney-Vento students who lived out of the district, but we still extended the same service as before. We used fuel cards and vendors.”
Be Creative Jackson strongly advises student transporters to be a
part of the education decision-making process from the start, especially when it comes to IEPs. “Hang in there and be creative. Try to find every
option. Talk to your parents and meet with your [spe- cial education] departments while you are doing your
staffing,” Jackson said. “A lot of times we feel we don’t have any say, so I tell my colleagues to have that con- versation and say this is what we can do. Then have that conversation with the parent afterward. If you take the time to speak with parents about why you’re using these services, they will better understand [and] be more receptive to it.” Jackson said things can go awry when transportation is not included. “A prime example is if there is an IEP meeting and
you’re not part of it and you get a request from parents who want their kids to be on a yellow bus that you don’t have. And you say, I can’t do that, and the parents will say they weren’t told that. So, I tell folks to be a part of conversations and try to be there early before a deci- sion is made. If you’re part of that decision, then at least parents know what the decision is, and they are not blindsided.” Kinzley offered another key piece of advice. “Listen to those most impacted by homelessness,” she said. “They have the solutions if we listen.” ●
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