Parent says YMCA after-school transportation cut left child without a ride and affected employment

A recorded voicemail played at the Hopkins School Board meeting on Jan. 14 described a parent who said the district’s after‑school transportation changes left her child unable to use the YMCA Ridgeville after‑school program and led to job loss.

The voicemail was from Shaquori McBride, who said the YMCA Ridgeville transportation for her son was cancelled at the start of the school year “without any kind of notice.” She said she lost her job because she cannot reliably work an eight‑hour shift if she cannot get her child to the program after school.

Board chair Shannon Andreessen read the voicemail and reminded the public that the board does not respond to public comment during the meeting; the chair said a district staff member would contact the caller. The chair also reminded callers that the district’s public comment guidelines restrict naming employees during comment.

The board took no immediate action during the meeting; a district staff member was assigned to follow up with the caller and address the transportation concern.

The voicemail text played at the meeting: “Since the year has started, the after school program for my son going to the YMCA Ridgeville location has been cut since this school year has started, and it was cut without any kind of notice… I’ve actually lost my job due to the fact that I am unable to work a complete 8 hour shift because there is no transportation that goes directly to the after school program after school.”

No further detail about the district’s prior communication or the transportation contract was presented at the meeting; the district said staff would reach out to the caller.

Speakers and sources for this item were the recorded voicemail from Shaquori McBride and board chair Shannon Andreessen, who introduced the voicemail and described the district’s public-comment procedures.