VEnt about drop-off/pick-up at school....

I HATE HATE HATE drop-off/pick up at school. The system is great, or would be great, if people used it correctly. You go in a gate that leads toa dirt parking lot. You either park in that parking lot out of the way, or you wait in line to get through another gate that leads to the main(paved, but tiny) parking lot. Thta tiny paved parking lot is where the drop off/pick up area is. You pull over to the right and drop-off or pick up your child. You are not to leave the vehicle. Many people use this as a parking area instead. OR, they double park, which blocks the path for those trying to get out of the parking lot.. Both, BTW, are against the rules and if people would actually read the handouts their children bring home, they would know this. I'm hoping by Christmas people might have it figured out.. Oh, and the tiny paved parking lot is the exit only area. The drive-way to get out has 2 lanes, which are clearly marked by signs(oh, but they're in english..maybe that's the problem. ). One lane is for turning right ONLY and the other is for turning left ONLY. You cannot go straight(unless you want to hit someones house. lol). So, instead of reading the signs and follwoing directiions, people stop right smack dab in the middle and then turn. Usually right whlie I'm trying to turn left..

Okay, That is vent #1(and 2, I guess)..

Next vent: BUCKLE UP YOUR CHLDREN!!!!!!!!!!! I come home sick to my stomach every single day(it's only the 8th day of school!) b/c I have to watch these teeny tiny 4, 5 & 6 year olds get thrown in the car. Barely buckled in.. Or a teeny 4 or 5 year old, not much bigger than Cias(who is 34-36 lbs) in either a booster seat or nothing. Sometimes not even a seatbelt.. UGH!!!!!!!!!!

I can't take it.... I'm going to talk to the school about getting some sort of safety program or handouts(in english and spanish) sent home or something.. Heck, even a CHP parked in the parking lot 2-3 times a day would be GREAT! Oh, and teh ladies assisting w/drop-off/pick-up are no help. They routinly let kids sit in the seat w/their backpacks on and seatbelts barely hanging on them. FTR, CA law is 6 yrs. or 60 lbs.. None of these kids I'm talking about are 60 lbs.. Some *might* be 6 though.. I hate that law... It needs changed ASAP..

Y'day I picked up C and stopped i nthe pick-up line instead of parking. The lady assisting w/pick-up was standing there ready to get C in,b ut the door was lcoked so I had to go around to unlock it. I told him to take his back-pack off, he asked why, so I said (loudly) "b/c it's dangerous to ride int he car w/your backpack on". He aske dwhy again so I said "b/c you can't get buckled in correctly that way".. I know she heard b/c she was looking at us. Maybe I'll talk to her and see what she says. I really need to just talk to the school....

Do you live in the 90201 zip code. Because you seem to be talking about my situation with my dd's school. Same thing, but now there is a cop on duty to cite anyone not complying. I hate it, just hate it. I ususally just park farther away, and walk to pick up my dd. But when I do use the pick up area, we get looks about her being in a Regent. Just yerterday, I called the cops because i saw a lady get out of the backseat of a car with a newborn in her arms, and a toddler jumped out. I peaked and there was no seat for either child. So I called the cops, and told them what I saw. Who knows if they did anything, but I did my part.

I hate the feeling you get when you see a child that is not preoperly restrained. I wish I didnt have to look, but I cant help it. I also feel like I have to vomit, when I see crap like that. I totally understand how you feel. Even my dh is having a hard time not looking into cars. There is no turning back I guess. Its sort of an addicition. There I said it.

Okay, its 2 o'clock, I have to go and get my dd at school. Wish me luck. Although, it wont make a difference.

Is this the first year the school system has had this?? Last year was our first year with a pick-up/drop-off line. It was slow slow slow at first, but was better for the most part after about 5 fliers were sent home, ect. also they have a lot of helpers/teachers/staff out at the cars, they don't car if you get out of the car to help our your kid, but make it timely ect. there is no parking lot for parents to pick up kids on foot they have to park on the street (we are a small town of about 3,000). This year it's been ok so far, but usally i get there 20-30 min early, allie naps while i make phone calls for work.
But i will say how AWFUL it is to see many many kids well under the age of 8 ( booster seat law age in our state) just jump right into the front seat... no questions asked by the cops, the teachers (who can't say anything due to regulations,ect), other parents, ect. it sucks!

I have no idea.. This is the first year I've had a kid in school.. I don't think it is the first year they've had this system though. It looks like it's been there a while... And they did send a flyer home. I'm guessing the numerous non-english speaking parents didn't read it. I think they sent it in spanish too though.

Our town is small like that too.. About 3-4000 people.