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65 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, June 6, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 23, 2004 Laidlaw Transit Co. picks up about two dozen homeless kids in the Medford School District each weekday, helping them stay in their home schools no matter where their families may move. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Bus drivers go the extra mile — or more — for homeless kids By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune The company that runs the Medford district’s school buses goes out of its way — literally — to ensure that homeless kids get to class. Every school morning, Laidlaw Transit Co. dispatches buses to pick up and take home about two dozen homeless kids no matter where they may move. "There’s quite a few changes," says Debbie Maxwell, a router with Laidlaw. "A lot of times the driver will have to let me know because the kids let them know they’re moving again." Advertisement Some of the kids move from shelters to motels to friends’ houses and back again as their family circumstances change. It doesn’t matter where the kids move; the bus company transports them back to their original school. "It’s better for them because they stay with their friends and teachers and everyone who knows them," Maxwell says. "Mental-wise, I think it’s better for them." A bus may travel from one side of Medford to the other to pick up a single kid, says Maxwell. She didn’t know how much the company spent on the service. "Time-wise, it might be 15 to 20 minutes a trip," she says. Despite the occasional logistical headache, Maxwell says it makes sense to help kids stay connected to a school community. "I think most people would be surprised at the amount of kids there are," she says. "I know I was. And I think there are more this year than last year." Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times