The adult transition center starts its day about an hour later than everyone else. Which has been really nice.
The school shares its parking lot with the elementary school next door. There's always plenty of parking.
I've been rolling in 30-45 minutes before the start of the school day. It gives me time to set up things and get ready for the day.
As I was driving in last Wednesday, I passed another elementary school on my way to "my" school. I noticed that they had everything set up for a sixth grade promotion ceremony. I got a little teary-eyed thinking about how the sixth graders were transitioning.
The obvious didn't occur to me until I got to "my" school.
But when I saw cars pulling out of the parking lot, I knew.
The elementary school next door was also having a sixth grade promotion ceremony, and all the parents had overwhelmed the parking lot.
They had spilled out into the street. And there was no leftover parking for, um, teachers who hadn't started our day yet.
Grumble, grumble.
I pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the neighborhood across the street. I found parking, and I walked in. (The street is fairly busy, so this walking in included going half a block to the nearest crosswalk.)
As I headed for the classroom, I ran across a car parked in a loading zone. Normally, I wouldn't really care. But this car was in our loading zone. That is, it was in the spot where the buses for our school have to park to drop off our students.
Oh no...
So, I called and reported the car to our office. (I may have asked if the car could be towed.) Because our buses were arriving in about fifteen minutes, they'd need a place to stop.
Was I being petty? Yup. But I'm okay with that. There's a reason that's marked as a loading zone.
Every single aide was late. As were the other two teachers. (Well, later than they normally are. Not very "late" late.) We all had the same issue.
I asked about the car in the buses' loading zone. They said it was gone.
I doubt they had enough time to tow the car. I'm sure they just called over to the elementary school and had someone make an announcement to move their car. But at least it was moved.
And when the ceremony was over and the parents departed, we all (one at a time) went and retrieved our cars and parked them in the lot. It was a minor inconvenience, really.
I just wish someone had given us a heads up beforehand. We could have arrived earlier that day. Oh well.
I do not remember with fondness all the mornings I had to circle the parking garage to find a spot so I could get to my classes on time. I appreciate your frustration, and--yes--a heads up in this case would have been very nice.
ReplyDeleteThat definitely should have been announced before. They'd know the date for months surely? Don't think it was being petty to make sure a bus could safely discharge students.
ReplyDeleteThat's not petty. There is a reason why people should not park there and I would have called as well. The school should have said something but I am not surprised as this happened to my friend as well and she had to walk a long distance to get to the school
ReplyDeleteI'm sure no one considered that we start later than they do. Now. It helps to be a week out of the event.
DeleteI don't think that's petty at all. They were illegally parked in a way that hampered the bus. It would have been wrong to allow the car to stay there.
ReplyDeleteI also hate the unexpected in my morning routine.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, that was the worst part.
DeleteStaff should have been given a heads up. And (maybe that's old fashioned communication) emails or notes could have been sent to parents of those moving up asking them not to park in places such as loading zones. Is there some way some of those spots could have been roped off until it was time for staff of your program to report? They must know, from past experience, the crowds expected. With all teachers have gone through in recent years, it only would have been common courtesy.
ReplyDeleteEvery other school had started their day, so they didn't have the issue. As for the loading zone, it was clearly marked, so that person was in the wrong.
DeleteYou were justified in calling.
ReplyDeleteI was being petty in wanting the car towed, though.
DeleteThe littlest things can be the most annoying, in a weird way. So don't feel bad. It's not like you started a fistfight or anything. :)
DeleteVery true.
DeleteI feel your pain. The local high school and middle school are a block from my house, and in the short distance between my house and Drew’s house I pass two elementary schools. I pretty much know to avoid the area around dismissal time, when tons of parents come to the schools to pick up their children.
ReplyDeleteThat's made a nightmare of some neighborhoods, with long congested lines of streets crammed in cars dropping off students.
DeleteOh yeah, that can be a total mess.
DeleteThat made me smile, glad you reported them.
ReplyDeleteCar can't stay there when we have buses coming.
Delete