The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-08-30
Lower Keys School Children
Need Better School Bus
Service Says Biz Pine Man
ASKS THAT
SCHOOL BOARD
ACT ON PROBLEM

All Yin LnODLCIM
Improved school bus service for
children living on the Lower Keys
VINO attend school in Marathon is
urged by a parent, w. o. Blalock,
in letter to The Editor of The
Citizen today.
Blalock said that he thought the
present bus driver does every
thing she can, the School Board
must take some action to bring
about home-pick up delivery of
school youngsters.
Blalock's letter follows:
"This letter is written only after
all parties concerned have been
contacted in an effort to work out
some method for carrying children
to school at Marathon. Since this
attempt has failed, / would like
to bring it to the attention of the
general public to see if some solu-
ton can be arrived at to help us
out"
II am a resident of Big Pine
Key, having been for the past two
years. This year a neighbor and
myself took our youngsters to
Marathon to register to attend the
public school. We were told at this
time the school bus would come to
the door of my home, pick up my
child, take her to school and re-
turn her home In the afternoon"
II was recently informed that
Mrs. Saunders who drives the bus
for the School Board will not pick
up the children at the house, and
that If the residents on the Keys
want to send their children to
school, they will have to take them
to her house. Parents will then
have to pick them up on their re-
turn from work in the afternoon.
Since ] work at the Naval Air
Station at Boca Chica, this means
my children will leave home short
ly after $3.50 am. and return home
about $50 or 500 PM"
II am not blaming Mrs. Saunders
for her action since sile says that
the School Board pays, her $4,000
per month to drive the bus. From
this amount she has to pay for
gasoline and oil. This Is not much
when you take into consideration
that she drives the bus more than
100 miles per day."
MRS. Saunders contends also
that each year the length Of the
route is increased, but the school
board does not increase her remun-
Grafton to take care Of the add.
tional expense involved in the oper-
alton of the bus"
1t Is obvious to all concerned
that the Lower Keys are rapidly
developing, that with this develop
ment more children will be using
the Marathon school, and the high
school at Key West viii see 4
larger influx of children at the
school In this city. This can only
result In overcrowded buses with
children standing in the aisles and
greater risk in the event of ac-
cident."
"Mr. O'Bryant has informed me
his hands are tied, that he takes
his instructions from the School
Board and there is nothing he can
do about the matter"
I'VE on the Keys hope some ac-
ton can be taken in the matter
since at present time we are faced
with two NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. our
six year old children out to the
main highway and leaving them
pending arrival Of the school bus
later in the morning. or taking
them to the home Of Mrs. Saunders
where they viii stay until we arrive
home from work In the afternoon
at $50 or 500 PM"
Neither Is satisfactory since by
the first method we are jeopardis.
ing the lives Of our children, and
by the second Mrs. Saunders will
have to take care Of our children
after she has spent the day travel
Ing well over q hundred miles on
the highway. Our children are en-.
titled 10 protection from traffic on
the highways, and Mrs. Saunders
Is certainly entitled to her rest at
the end Of the day"
This letter Is written not as a
form Of criticism Of the people in.
volved but to point out a condition
that Is rapidly becoming critical
IN the hope that In the final analy-
sis the School Board win take i'm
mediate action to remedy t."
Thank you for any cooperation
you may give rs In this matter. !"