Refused a bus ride, Windsor mom forced to pay hundreds to get her first grader to school

Since school started, Michelle Potter has been paying about $20 a day to get her six-year-old son to and from class because she's been told for weeks that he can't ride the school bus. 

Even though Potter's four-year-old daughter can get on the bus, her son, who attends the same school, has been refused since September. She says she's been told the bus only picks up kids in junior and senior kindergarten and those who have special needs. In this case, she's requested a courtesy ride, but has been told there's a long waitlist as the rides are on pause because of the pandemic. 

After CBC News reached out to Student Transportation Services about this situation, general manager Gabrielle McMillan said in an email that starting Tuesday, Potter's son is approved for a courtesy ride. 

But this exception comes after Potter has been requesting a ride for more than a month. 

Potter says she recently sustained an injury to her legs and can't always walk the 1.1 kilometres to the school. She's also on a fixed income through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and can't afford to keep paying for cab rides. 

"I don't see the reason why he can't go to school on the bus with his little sister," she said.

"Every day it's $20, every day, that's $100 a week. I can't afford that, I'm on ODSP and it's hard. I'm a single mom ... that could be three meals on my table. I'm taking away that from my kids."