With the start of the school year fast approaching, the Lake Orion Board of Education received a petition last week signed by 39 parents to put a bus drop-off at the Boys and Girls Club on Waldon Road.
But school officials said there’s nothing they can do given the status of the club.
Elizabeth Finn, who has a daughter in first grade at Blanche Sims and a step-daughter that will be new to the Lake Orion district this year as a middle schooler, presented the petition at the school board meeting on Aug. 15.
‘If they would put a drop-off there, they would be helping a great deal of parents,? Finn said.
She said kids of all ages from around the district were represented in the petition. She noted that the club prevents kids from being home alone and is open late to accommodate working parents.
‘It is very expensive, especially if you have more than one kid, to do latch key,? Finn said. ‘I don’t know how else to do it.?
She said there are already drops at Pee Wee Patch and several private schools within the district.
‘I don’t see how they can justify that and not consider the Boys and Girls Club,? she said.
Jillynn Keppler, Executive Director of Business Services for the district, said the fact that the club is not a licensed day-care facility means they simply cannot be considered for a drop-off.
‘We have to work within our rules and regulations,? she said. ‘Unfortunately, that doesn’t meet their needs.?
‘The Boys and Girls Club is a respected organization and it’s nothing against them,? Keppler added. ‘It’s meant more to be a drop-by center. That is their role.?
Finn said the location of the bus depot, basically around the corner from the club, should lend itself to a drop spot and that several parents would be willing to offset gas costs.
Keppler noted, however, that the busses work on a tiered system and often do not head back to the depot until several runs to various schools are completed.
She said some schools have a drop spot in the Waldon Lakes Apartments, the closest drop to the club, which does not require students to cross a major road to access the club.
But that drop spot would not satisfy parents like Finn, whose daughter’s route from Blanche Sims does not include a Waldon drop.
The argument that there used to be a drop-off at the club when it was located on Elizabeth Street is incorrect, according to Keppler.
‘There was a stop located right near there and students could get off and walk a short distance to the club,? she said. ‘But it wasn’t a drop-off at the club.?
Club Director Tim Dougan said he would welcome any consideration by the district and invites members of the board to come by and see the club.
He said that over 100 kids visit the club every day in the summertime, a majority residing in the Lake Orion district.