David CookI'm tickled pink to report that the Avondale bus stop isn't going anywhere.
Neither is the Rolles' breakfast club.
"Every time we go to the store, people are asking us," said Chris Rolle.
Remember Chris and Cookie Rolle? They're the retired couple with cake-box-big hearts who live on Dodson Avenue, just across from the Avondale bus stop.
Each morning, they wake up at zero dark thirty to fix breakfast for 60, maybe 70 kids from at least six different schools who come like pilgrims to the Rolles' front yard before catching the bus.
"Welcome to the breakfast club," one middle schooler said.
Three weeks ago, it came close to ending. Rather dastardly, the Hamilton County Department of Education threatened to move the bus stop, calling it a "dangerous situation" and claiming that kids ran out in the street while also making buses late.
Not only are such claims hyperbolic (the kids I saw were orderly and well-mannered) but the logic behind them is paltry. To make kids safer, our school system considers taking them away from what may be the most positive thing in their daily lives?
Many of you got wind of this, and started calling and emailing.
City Hall jumped up and responded.
"Someone from the city has been out here every single day," said Chris.
Police, helping kids across the street. City Hall staffers (good morning, Justin Wilkins), chatting with kids over cereal. Public Safety Coordinator Paul Smith, and someone from Hope for the Inner City, too.
Mayor Andy Berke went to meet the Rolles on the day the news broke, and then again a few days ago. His staff met twice, thrice, looking for solutions, until announcing this:
"A crosswalk," said Stacy Richardson, the mayor's senior adviser.
By Thanksgiving, a new crosswalk should connect the Rolles' side of the street to the bus stop. The city is also talking with the Tennessee Department of Transportation about adding flashing lights to the crosswalk.
During the next budget process, they'll work on the possibility of opening Avondale Rec Center -- steps away from the bus stop -- so the Rolles can serve breakfast there.
"The Rolles are doing what we believe in: building strong neighborhoods that empower people to write their own stories," Richardson said.
Like a cake, this story has layers.
First, and best: the Rolles and their front-porch breakfast. It's love in motion, Mother Teresa activism.
Second, and so lovely: the way so many of you across the city and county have responded with support.
Third, and equally admirable: the way the city hustled to fix this.
"This is what people want their public servants to do," said Richardson.
Fourth, like a sour patch: the Department of Education's response, or lack of.
Since this all began, the Rolles have not heard one thing from the Department of Education.
"I have not," said Chris.
One, maybe two school board members stopped by, but nothing from the system responsible for both the bus stop and the threat to move it.
You think they'd send someone. Or a follow-up to their initial letter. (It was Paul Smith -- not the county -- who told the Rolles that the bus stop wasn't moving.) Maybe even a thank-you for all the Rolles do, or at least a sit-down to hash things out.
"I've not talked to the couple and do not think anybody here in the department has," schools superintendent Rick Smith said Tuesday.
Smith was very clear: He appreciates what the Rolles were doing, and the county has no intention of moving the stop.
"Anytime you're helping children, it's a good thing," Smith said.
Help comes in many forms. So does nonhelp.
The Department of Education slow-footed this -- no response to the Rolles, letting City Hall carry the load in finding a solution to the problem it started. It was molasses when it should have been warmly proactive.
What worries me most: We just lost a golden opportunity for the city and county to work hand-in-hand on a beautiful solution to a meaningful issue.
"If, as a community, we can't work together about something as simple as a bus stop, we will never solve the bigger, more difficult problems like school nutrition, parental involvement, and school safety," Richardson said.
Contact David Cook at dcook@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6329. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter at DavidCookTFP.