We got phone calls and texts from the school district letting us know the busses would be late. We knew Annika’s bus would be late because it always is when there is even a trace of snow. We got a phone call around 5 p.m. from her teacher (after the time she usually is home). They were still at school; there was no sign of the bus.

We thought about going to pick her up then, but we were told that people were stuck in the school parking lot and along the way. I had seen 4 school busses stuck in the snow on my way home from Roseville (I took the back roads so I wouldn’t get stuck on the parking lot known as Highway 36). I knew it was bad. We ate dinner and waited.

At six, I was a little frantic. I called the school. The bus was not there yet. I have a 4-wheel drive vehicle and so I decided to trek up to pick her up. I got there around 6:15 or 6:20, passing other stuck school busses along the way. It wasn’t like all the busses were stuck; some were not able to get past other cars stuck on the side streets. I went in and there were still a lot of kids waiting for the bus. I felt so bad for them, but they were having snacks and milk and playing.

I have heard that kids are just getting home now at 9 p.m. – elementary school kids who are hungry, tired, and probably overwhelmingly anxious and scared. Tonight was a failure at so many levels. There was little communication, the app said that busses were running ahead of when they actually were, the phone lines were jammed and on the off chance you did get through, all you got was an automated message. I would have been worried sick if I hadn’t picked up Annika. I’m so sad and angry for the people who didn’t know what was happening.

On the flip side, I’m glad there are people like the paras on one bus with special ed students who hopped off at a gas station near where the bus was stuck and picked up chips and water for the kids. I’m glad there are teachers, paras, and secretaries who stayed with my daughter and all the other kids who were stuck at school. There are good people who give up a lot to work with these kids, and I’m thankful for that.