Comments on: Busses - OK, lets talk about responsibility http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:07:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: GoldenAppleCorp http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1661 GoldenAppleCorp Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:11:53 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1661 On my drive to and from school this morning, I noticed two things: 1. There were three cops in and around the WB are. One was a motorcycle cop at the intersection of Robertsville and N. Illinois. Another had pulled over someone and was writing a ticket on Robertsville, and the other was sitting closer to the school. Are they going to be there every day, and, if so, how much money is being paid for the police to sit around and babysit? When you add up all the cops at all the schools, how much money is being spent on salary, gas, etc? What is being neglected by them sitting there instead of actively patrolling the city? 2. I did not see a single walker <i>anywhere</i>. I even took the long way home, hoping to get an idea of how many kids would be walking now that school's fully in session. I didn't see any. Perhaps since it's the first day, most parents are driving their kids to school. Tomorrow might have a better turn out. I was relieved, however, to find that people seemed to be driving a lot more responsibly than usual. I don't have any good answers for the questions you asked, AT, but there was a lot of talk about it at the PTO meeting and it was decided we'd have another meeting to discuss it further. I think some of the things that we can personally look into (and possibly even spearhead if necessary) is the formation of carpools and/or walking pools. I don't know if the PTO would be willing to handle the cost, but a good, well-written survey sent home to all parents in an attempt to organize such pools might not be a bad place to start. Or if we could have a representative from each road that is being left out of the bussing route could talk to neighbors and try to get pools started on a smaller level. I also think we need to explore things such as bus stops (how much gas (and brakes and maintenance) could be saved if buses didn't stop at <i>every single house</i>?) and graduated bussing (0 or .5 miles for elementary, 1.0 for middle, 1.5 for high school). /rant On my drive to and from school this morning, I noticed two things:
1. There were three cops in and around the WB are. One was a motorcycle cop at the intersection of Robertsville and N. Illinois. Another had pulled over someone and was writing a ticket on Robertsville, and the other was sitting closer to the school. Are they going to be there every day, and, if so, how much money is being paid for the police to sit around and babysit? When you add up all the cops at all the schools, how much money is being spent on salary, gas, etc? What is being neglected by them sitting there instead of actively patrolling the city?
2. I did not see a single walker anywhere. I even took the long way home, hoping to get an idea of how many kids would be walking now that school’s fully in session. I didn’t see any. Perhaps since it’s the first day, most parents are driving their kids to school. Tomorrow might have a better turn out. I was relieved, however, to find that people seemed to be driving a lot more responsibly than usual.

I don’t have any good answers for the questions you asked, AT, but there was a lot of talk about it at the PTO meeting and it was decided we’d have another meeting to discuss it further.
I think some of the things that we can personally look into (and possibly even spearhead if necessary) is the formation of carpools and/or walking pools. I don’t know if the PTO would be willing to handle the cost, but a good, well-written survey sent home to all parents in an attempt to organize such pools might not be a bad place to start. Or if we could have a representative from each road that is being left out of the bussing route could talk to neighbors and try to get pools started on a smaller level.
I also think we need to explore things such as bus stops (how much gas (and brakes and maintenance) could be saved if buses didn’t stop at every single house?) and graduated bussing (0 or .5 miles for elementary, 1.0 for middle, 1.5 for high school).
/rant

]]> By: Atomictumor http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1664 Atomictumor Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:47:20 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1664 Community bussing is a great idea. I don't mind the idea of kids walking down the road, particularly if theres a group of them, and its just down a block or so. We'd still need the same amount of busses/drivers, tho, so I don't see how it'd save a lot of $$$. Community bussing is a great idea. I don’t mind the idea of kids walking down the road, particularly if theres a group of them, and its just down a block or so. We’d still need the same amount of busses/drivers, tho, so I don’t see how it’d save a lot of $$$.

]]> By: GoldenAppleCorp http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1665 GoldenAppleCorp Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:50:01 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1665 Well, like I said, it'd save at least a little money on gas, brake changes, general maintenance, etc. And it would save time. If time could be saved, and none of the busses are at full capacity, it's possible that one bus could pick up many more kids than it carries presently. (Although I'd have to ask Ms. Miller et. al. at what capacity the busses are at now.) I'm not suggesting that it'll save us that $500,000, though. Well, like I said, it’d save at least a little money on gas, brake changes, general maintenance, etc. And it would save time. If time could be saved, and none of the busses are at full capacity, it’s possible that one bus could pick up many more kids than it carries presently. (Although I’d have to ask Ms. Miller et. al. at what capacity the busses are at now.)
I’m not suggesting that it’ll save us that $500,000, though.

]]> By: Mrs Eaves http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1668 Mrs Eaves Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:44:57 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1668 Despite my own rantings and ravings, I completely agree that our efforts need to be directed at finding solutions. I think that the best thing we can possibly do is educate ourselves on every aspect of the situation. The Willow Brook PTO meeting on August 8 provided a good start. However, because of legal and liability issues, the PTO can only do so much. I think that it would be wise to find out exactly what is allowed so that the WB PTO, other schools' PTOs, and other existing organizations can be effectively utilized. I think that there are many positives about community bus stops and graduated bussing. I think that using a combination of those could save some real dollars. Probably not enough to cover the deficit, but it would certainly be a good start. And yes, Council needs to be addressed regularly by a variety of citizens in support of education. Council needs to know that we exist. Don't want to go to a meeting? Write a letter to them. Write a letter to the editor. Put a sign in your yard. Help me come up with a bumper sticker slogan so I can get the dang things printed up. One of my concerns is that the symptom (bus cuts) will be addressed but the cause (education no longer on Council's radar) will not. I think that we need to find a balanced, unified message to bring. Despite my own rantings and ravings, I completely agree that our efforts need to be directed at finding solutions.

I think that the best thing we can possibly do is educate ourselves on every aspect of the situation. The Willow Brook PTO meeting on August 8 provided a good start. However, because of legal and liability issues, the PTO can only do so much. I think that it would be wise to find out exactly what is allowed so that the WB PTO, other schools’ PTOs, and other existing organizations can be effectively utilized.

I think that there are many positives about community bus stops and graduated bussing. I think that using a combination of those could save some real dollars. Probably not enough to cover the deficit, but it would certainly be a good start.

And yes, Council needs to be addressed regularly by a variety of citizens in support of education. Council needs to know that we exist. Don’t want to go to a meeting? Write a letter to them. Write a letter to the editor. Put a sign in your yard. Help me come up with a bumper sticker slogan so I can get the dang things printed up.

One of my concerns is that the symptom (bus cuts) will be addressed but the cause (education no longer on Council’s radar) will not. I think that we need to find a balanced, unified message to bring.

]]> By: Atomictumor http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1669 Atomictumor Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:53:01 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1669 Yeah, I'm not as interested in the symptoms, because that boat has taken off. People are (finally) aware of the problem, and that'll address itself. We need to deal with the root cause, and get council to understand that there are enough people thinking our way to put a threat to their future interests. Yeah, I’m not as interested in the symptoms, because that boat has taken off. People are (finally) aware of the problem, and that’ll address itself. We need to deal with the root cause, and get council to understand that there are enough people thinking our way to put a threat to their future interests.

]]> By: Mrs Eaves http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1671 Mrs Eaves Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:09:15 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1671 Right on. Right on.

]]> By: daco http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1675 daco Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:15:45 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1675 Man you are a bunch of smart people. Smart and well intended. Does anyone have any idea exactly how many school aged children (by school) are actually affected by the walk zone rule? That might be helpful in understanding just how to approach to problem. Man you are a bunch of smart people. Smart and well intended.

Does anyone have any idea exactly how many school aged children (by school) are actually affected by the walk zone rule? That might be helpful in understanding just how to approach to problem.

]]> By: Atomictumor http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1677 Atomictumor Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:23:16 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1677 Thats what kinda suprised me about GAC this morn, saying that she didn't see a lot of walkers. Seems to me that what would be a cool thing would be to try to get an idea from parents on what routes kids will be walking on, and have some people out there to slow traffic down as necessary, or 'shephard' the kids. Granted, a lot of folks wouldn't be crazy about telling strangers how their kids walk to school... Thats what kinda suprised me about GAC this morn, saying that she didn’t see a lot of walkers. Seems to me that what would be a cool thing would be to try to get an idea from parents on what routes kids will be walking on, and have some people out there to slow traffic down as necessary, or ’shephard’ the kids.
Granted, a lot of folks wouldn’t be crazy about telling strangers how their kids walk to school…

]]> By: daco http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1679 daco Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:36:29 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1679 This may sound like a stupid question, but what time to elementary school kids report to school in the am? This may sound like a stupid question, but what time to elementary school kids report to school in the am?

]]> By: GoldenAppleCorp http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1680 GoldenAppleCorp Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:02:30 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1680 daco, school officially starts at 8:30, but children can arrive as early as 7:45 for breakfast. The schools could give us official numbers as to how many children are affected, but nothing beyond that. As in, they couldn't give us addresses or anything, so that we could approach the parents at their homes for petition signing, etc. Mrs. Miller (WB principal) said that there are approximately 15-25 students walking <i>unattended</i> every day. That's not including however many kids meet their parents or other adults, or who are now picked up after school. She also gave us the number of new car riders, but I can't remember it and wouldn't want to take a guess. Mrs. Eaves, do you remember what she said? daco, school officially starts at 8:30, but children can arrive as early as 7:45 for breakfast.
The schools could give us official numbers as to how many children are affected, but nothing beyond that. As in, they couldn’t give us addresses or anything, so that we could approach the parents at their homes for petition signing, etc.
Mrs. Miller (WB principal) said that there are approximately 15-25 students walking unattended every day. That’s not including however many kids meet their parents or other adults, or who are now picked up after school. She also gave us the number of new car riders, but I can’t remember it and wouldn’t want to take a guess. Mrs. Eaves, do you remember what she said?

]]> By: Mrs Eaves http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1682 Mrs Eaves Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:19:09 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1682 Back in early June, Netmom posted the number of children affected on her site: "How many kids are affected? 734, at current enrollment, by school as follows: * Robertsville Middle: 128 * Jefferson Middle: 141 * Glenwood Elementary: 77 * Linden Elementary: 102 * Willowbrook Elementary: 136 * Woodland Elementary: 130" Mrs. Miller at WB has said that the school now has 150 unique cars that go through the afternoon car rider line. If memory serves me well, I believe that she said that's an increase of about 100 from last year. Would need to double check that, though. Back in early June, Netmom posted the number of children affected on her site:

“How many kids are affected? 734, at current enrollment, by school as follows:

* Robertsville Middle: 128
* Jefferson Middle: 141
* Glenwood Elementary: 77
* Linden Elementary: 102
* Willowbrook Elementary: 136
* Woodland Elementary: 130″

Mrs. Miller at WB has said that the school now has 150 unique cars that go through the afternoon car rider line. If memory serves me well, I believe that she said that’s an increase of about 100 from last year. Would need to double check that, though.

]]> By: daco http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1684 daco Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:50:18 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1684 MAN, that is a bunch of youngsters. MAN, that is a bunch of youngsters.

]]> By: GoldenAppleCorp http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1688 GoldenAppleCorp Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:32:10 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1688 Another thought on responsibility: Who's responsible for clearing growth off of sidewalks? Does that fall to the homeowner, or the city? If it's the homeowner, then they should be warned, then fined, for overgrowth. Same goes for people parking their cars on the sidewalk. It could force walking kids into the street. (That, and those people piss me off.) And the city needs to put up signs (as well as paint) for children crossing any time a sidewalk changes sides of the road. I was driving down California a minute ago and on a rather steep part of the hill, the sidewalk flips. Signs or a painted crossing might make it a little safer. I'd also like to see crossing signs put up on major intersections where kids will be likely to cross. It might be redundant, but people might need to be reminded to be safe. Another thought on responsibility:
Who’s responsible for clearing growth off of sidewalks? Does that fall to the homeowner, or the city? If it’s the homeowner, then they should be warned, then fined, for overgrowth. Same goes for people parking their cars on the sidewalk. It could force walking kids into the street. (That, and those people piss me off.)
And the city needs to put up signs (as well as paint) for children crossing any time a sidewalk changes sides of the road. I was driving down California a minute ago and on a rather steep part of the hill, the sidewalk flips. Signs or a painted crossing might make it a little safer.
I’d also like to see crossing signs put up on major intersections where kids will be likely to cross. It might be redundant, but people might need to be reminded to be safe.

]]> By: daco http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1709 daco Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:18:56 +0000 http://www.atomictumor.com/2006/08/14/busses-ok-lets-talk-about-responsibility/#comment-1709 It has to be the responsibility of the city GAC. Good luck with that one. The sidewalks in the older neighborhoods are in horrible shape. The sidewalk across the street from my house is downright dangerous. It has to be the responsibility of the city GAC. Good luck with that one. The sidewalks in the older neighborhoods are in horrible shape. The sidewalk across the street from my house is downright dangerous.

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