Parents seek school transportation exception over safety concerns in Sharon Hill
SHARON HILL, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Sharon Hill family is seeking an exception to a school transportation policy after being told their two young children are now considered to be in a designated walking zone for school.
Kyra Harris said she is concerned about her sons, ages 8 and 6, walking to Liberty Baptist Academy in Glenolden without bus service.
"It's too dangerous for an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old to cross Chester Pike, and six other streets to get to school," Harris said.
For the past two years, Harris said her sons, Liam and Issac, rode a bus from Sharon Hill to Liberty Baptist Academy. However, when school began Sept. 1, she said the bus did not arrive.
"This year they're telling me they're in a walk zone, so they want an 8-year-old and 6-year-old to walk to Glenolden," Harris said.
According to Harris, the family was told the children are within a mile and a half of the school and are therefore expected to walk. She said the route is about six blocks and requires crossing Chester Pike during rush hour.
The family said taking the children to school themselves is not a feasible option. Harris said she must go to work, while her husband, Arthur Harris, is a disabled veteran.
"I cannot walk them to school. I'm not supposed to walk them to school," Arthur Harris said.
"It's putting a lot of stress on us. We already have a lot going on. Now there is a lot more stress because of this," he added.
The Harris family said they have been trying to get the Southeast Delco School District to make an exception for the boys but have not been successful so far.
Liberty Baptist Academy Principal Cliff Zimmerman said he hopes a solution can be found before a safety incident occurs.
"We don't want to do this story with a tragedy of a child who was hit by a car because they couldn't get across the street safely," Zimmerman said.
Attempts to reach the school district and its transportation department for comment were unsuccessful.