Monitor Dilemma

Amy Griffith with the City Paper looks at the Metro Budget and finds some politicians clamoring for more money to pay for school bus 'monitors':

Metro Nashville Public Schools’ newly minted operating budget is already facing “considerable” pressure to find $4.7 million for special education bus monitors.

At budget hearings this year, Dean as well as Council members urged the district to add monitors. Board of Education members have stated a commitment to hiring monitors for all district special education buses as soon as possible, and the district is preparing a plan for the board as to how these positions will be funded.

Now, best I can tell the monitors are little more that seat fillers who are supposed to look at the kids on the bus. While my liberal tendencies are for the Government to pay for everything, perhaps this is a role that could by filled (or augmented) by unpaid parental volunteers? I'm sure some of these kids have moms or dads who stay home during the day...maybe they'd be willing to sit on the bus if the purpose is their child's safety? Just a thought.