Today's newspaper doesn't have a lot of great news for Wake's school transportation department.
As noted in an article by Kinea, a first-grade student from Stough Elementary was dropped off at the wrong stop last week. It's at least the third time it's happened this school year.
In a separate article in the North Raleigh News, a mother of a Hilburn Drive Elementary first-grader said her son's first two weeks on the bus were nightmarish. She said his bus broke down twice, didn't come once and injured him when his foot was caught in the door.
Alvin McNeill, Wake's school transportation operations manager, said service should be better countywide during this third week of classes.
Wake has been trying to reassure parents that their children are safe riding the bus following a pair of scary situations back in July.
In one case, a 5-year-old boy was dropped off at the wrong stop four miles from home.
In the other incident, the bus driver kicked a 6-year-old student out who had gotten on the wrong bus. He was brought back to the bus stop and left there alone because his mom had left after seeing him board.
Wake implemented several measures, outlined in this memo, to try to correct the problems.
UPDATE
Link corrected.
Comments
I'm sure it's the bottled water
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 12:13 — Voice_of_Reason_Or maybe the kool-aid.
www.hillforboe.org/Platform.html
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:45 — bigwinnieFinally, we have to look at how we build schools and assign students to them in a school system the size of Wake County. I favor voluntary year-round ...
Pandering to get elected
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:49 — Voice_of_Reason_A true politician; he has a future in his party.
honest to goodness, if
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:53 — bigwinniehonest to goodness, if there anyone who means what they say out there anymore?
more Kevin Hill
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:43 — bigwinniehttp://rwc.aauwnc.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/3-hilllavancewilson.pdf
Survey by AAUW Raleigh/Wake County (rwc.aauwnc.org) and the League of Women Voters of Wake County (lwvwake.org)
Posted September 18, 2007
Hill: Long term planning for future school requirements should be a collaborative process involving representatives
from all the municipalities in Wake County, as well as the County Commissioners, and representatives of the School
System. A parent group that reflects and represents the entire community should also have representation “at the
table.” Effective planning will only take place when all parties agree to put politics aside and focus on guaranteeing
our children a quality education. Without ownership in the decision making process by the above named groups, we
will not be successful conquering the problems associated with growth.
Was it Kevin Hill who said
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:27 — NWRaleighMomWas it Kevin Hill who said that they BOE wants to pursue reassignments as long as it is practical? It is apparent now that it is no longer practical with the high fuel costs and logistical nightmares that long cross-country rides create. We just need to assign ALL kids to the closest schools.
http://www.indyweek.com/gyro
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:39 — bigwinniehttp://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A160784
4. Wake schools are known for a commitment to economic diversity, but the goal of having no more than 40 percent of kids eligible for free and reduced meal plans in any school is slipping. Do you think the board should be more rigorous about adhering to its diversity goal? Less rigorous? Or is it getting things about right?
I believe they are doing the best job possible trying to remain true to this goal, which I strongly believe in. It will become increasingly difficult to limit “F&R” students to 40% at more and more schools as our county and neighborhoods change to reflect the diversity of our new county residents. This is not to suggest that we abandon this goal, it means we have to work harder to try to be successful with implementation. The size of our community and the size of the school system will make it hard if not impossible to adhere to at some schools
millions spent on unnecessary busing. why should parents drive?
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 08:24 — Anonymous (not verified)its absurd for parents to be expected to "take your child to school and pick him/her up! "....
Our kids, like many others, are assigned in two different geographical directions by Dulaney and the old BoE members. 17 Miles separates them because of these policies.
The carpool and bus lanes are already jammed and our cross-walks and bike racks are empty! No wonder kids are obese nowadays.
This old school board, Dulaney, and Del Burns have created this problem - - they get a BILLION dollars a year - - they have the legal, moral, and ethical responsibility to mitigate risk and reduce the negative impact of their policies including assignment.
They will eventually all find themselves in court over this (again?) (and their careers wrecked too), but it might take a bus load of wrecked/dead kids on a Wake Highway or crowded road to finally get some justice for Wake parents, students, & taxpayers.
No Bond. No re-ELECTIONS!
It's time PARENTS do the busing!
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 21:13 — g88ky07If your busing situation sucks, take your child to school and pick him/her up! Have you lost your mind putting him/her in the big yellow beltless tank in the first place?? Come on!
What SHOULD happen is ALL buses should be taken away to the scrap yard and the parents should become responsible for transporting, PERIOD!
If you want new people in next year then good people need to run! Not the Chris Decker types either!
People that can live with a 17K a year thankless gig!
The salary this current crop of boe puppets is getting is waaaaay TOO MUCH!
They doesn't deserve a dime more and I think they owe US a whole bunch more than that!!!
dealing with the the busing situation
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 03:08 — HJ2ss2Unfortunately, that's the only solution. This is not a new problem. Ten years ago when my children were in the Wake Schools, they dreaded the bus. As they described the poor driving skills, (one of my high school students described school bus drivers driving like a bat out of h---) I decided to transport them-----adjusting my work schedule in order to accomadate my responsibility for my children.
Things haven't changed. Yesterday, A bus pulled out, from a side street, in front of me on a busy road! Fortunately, I am a defensive driver. Had to come to a near stop to avoid hitting the bus.
busing sux this year
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 16:59 — Anonymous (not verified)my 7 year old got re-assigned this year from the closest school ~3 miles away to a school that is 6 miles away.
(there are 5 closer schools now!)
The unwanted reassignment forced on us by Dulaney and BoE had NOTHING to do with crowding!
She now gets picked up by the bus about an hour before school starts and she returns about an hour after school lets out!
She spends 2 hours a day wasted on a bus !
Thats like 30% of the school day!
What a waste of our time and tax dollars!
If buses are SO good, why doesn't our BoE ride them !
For the sake of taxpayers, Students, and parents, please please vote in NEW logical practical candidates in this year's school board elections.
Goateee lied. Kids Cried.
What A Mess
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 13:40 — Lisa_BWell, I guess I can count myself fortuante that we don't have to deal with buses. I spoke with a Middle School parent last night who said that the past 2 weeks have been horrible, and when she spoke to transportation she was told that it is NOT going to get any better. There aren't enough buses to run the routes, so some buses have to take a group of kids home and then return to the MS to pick up a second load.
I also saw 2 buses FLY up the hill after the High School dismissed (probably 45 MPH in a 25 MPH zone) VERY dangerous. Seems like an accident just waiting to happen. I know that the drivers need to quickly accomplish their routes and then get back to pick up Middle School kids so they feel as though they need to be QUICK.
Again... and again...
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 13:00 — Anonymous (not verified)With current BoEd/ WCPSS management [approach] it will be the same again and again... Unrealistic hope?
What's the problem?
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 09:43 — g88ky07Why do we continue to beat up a system that has no clue and no hope of improving or doing anything with common sense?
They are doing their best aren't they?
After all, busing is the best thing for us, right?
It'll be ok everyone. Just continue to put your kids on the big yellow cans w/o seat belts and hopefully they'll find their way back to you.
If they don't you should just take one for the team, according to the "system."
The wcpss and the incredible inadequate boe,
a JOKE that is on us!
wrong link in the North
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 09:14 — bigwinniewrong link in the North Raleigh mention
Link fixed
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 09:57 — KeungHui (author)Sorry about that. Was juggling multiple links this morning and put the wrong one in before. It's now been changed.
thanks, it's quite a story
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 12:37 — bigwinniethanks, it's quite a story
answer: go study the assignment/transportation maps!
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 07:42 — Anonymous (not verified)Its no wonder that WCPSS has transportation problems....
Just go to http://www.wcpss.net/school-directory/
and check OUT a few schools....
Study the assignment info - - specifically the Maps for base attendance zones and transportation zones for many schools and you will see the PROBLEM....
The problem is the rediculous long distance & cross-county nature of many of these assignments - - if you drove your personal car (and many parents do) on Three tiers of these rediculous chriss/cross routes every day you'd have troubles too....
Don't blame the low-wage bus drivers !
The problem lies squarely on the assignment policies and arrogance of Chuck Delaney, Del Burns, and the Board of Education oldies....
If they prioritized parental involvement over "transportation" we'd solve most of the funding and graduation short-falls!
The best solution is to VOTE IN NEW BoE in the FALL.
Small price to pay on the way to utopia
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 06:42 — Dadof3What? The "memo" didn't fix all that ails us? Without knowing the details, let's hope the focus is on management on not throw the bus driver under his or her own bus. Wait a minute, that's too practical. Where's Captain Delaney when we need him?