BUS ISSUE ARTICLE FROM AUGUST 2012:
Parents Launch Facebook Page to Oppose Katy ISD Bus Policy
COMPILED FROM NEWS REPORTS · AUGUST 15, 2012 · 27 COMMENTS
As criticism continues to mount over Katy ISD’s new school bus policy,
several concerned parents have launched a new Facebook page to oppose the district’s
decision.
The page, “Bring Back Our Buses,” was created by district residents
under the name Katy ISD Parents for Safety.
According to the page, it is “dedicated to fighting for the safety of
our children and reinstating safe bus routes to all KISD schools.”
It also says the group is “dedicated to solving the transportation
chaos caused by the superintendent and school board for 2012-2013.”
The page can be viewed at
www.facebook.com/KatyISDConcernedParents.
In May, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees eliminated more than 50 bus
routes, affecting approximately 6,600 students, or nearly 21 percent of the 32,000
students that rode buses to school in the previous school year.
District officials recommended the move because they said Katy ISD
could not hire a sufficient number of drivers available to meet daily transportation route
requirements.
“The change in transportation services comes after extensive review of
our current transportation operations that not only revealed a heavy burden for drivers
covering multiple routes, but also a high amount of uncertainty and risk due to vacant
routes and driver absences,” Superintendent Alton Frailey said when the cutbacks were
announced. “In comparison to other school districts, Katy ISD’s transportation eligibility
distances remain among the shortest in the Houston area as many districts require students
to live outside of a two-mile radius.”
Earlier this month, the district launched a new transportation hotline,
as well as a new webpage, to answer parents’ questions about new transportation
eligibility guidelines; however, many parents who have contacted the hotline have
expressed dissatisfaction over the responses they have received.
Parents have also complained the methodology being used by the district
to calculate the distances for bus eligibility was flawed, and that some students will be
forced to cross potentially-hazardous intersections when walking to school.
To be eligible for transportation services under the new policy, an
elementary student must live beyond a half-mile radius from school property, and for
secondary students, beyond a one-mile radius from school property.
The district said bus transportation will continue to be provided
for students for whom a hazardous condition may exist between home and school, as well as
special needs bus routes.
27 Comments
Just Wondering2AUGUST 15, 2012 AT 9:13 AM
At first reading the district proposal seems harmless and in the
best interest of the taxpayers and recognizes the driver shortage, which I understand is
for real. Maybe a few moms instead of driving their own kids to school in the morning
would solve this problem by stopping by the transportation center and heading out with a
school bus in lieu of the BMW or mini van?
The late parental screaming is a reflection of the truth in the old
adage, “The devil is in the details.” It is time someone took a closer look at the details
and tinkered with the plan a bit.
This entire incident is yet another reflection of how little we
pay attention to what is happening at the ESC (central office) as this “little ole thing”
found its way to district policy with everyone asleep at the wheel.
Most parents and taxpayers will be shocked even more if they paid
attention to all the other items which pass through the school board meeting room. This is
just the tip of the iceberg and the only reason parents know about it is because it
affects Little Johnny and Pretty Mary on the first day of school.
The other things have BEEN affecting Johnny, Mary, mom and dad everyday
and they don’t even know it. Ignorance is really expensive, at least that is what a good
friend of mine says at his workshops.
Time to wake up people! Pay attention, or at least elect some
people who can.
JustWondering2,
BRAVO!
If only the mothers and fathers Knew what was going on in the district
we might get some issues addressed.
When you do speak up they just call you crazy and don’t take the
time to research or question any issue.
This is just the tip of the iceberg and I hope we have more join
us at the meetings this year.
KISD_parentAUGUST 15, 2012 AT 8:29 PM
Knowing KISD, I’m sure that they have left some kids in dangerous
situations.
That said I am also sure that many of the parents are just complaining
because it may inconvenience them or little Johnny.
I agree with you JW2 about the parents not having a clue as to what
really matters and affects their kids every day.
Most parents are happy with the system as long as Little Johnny and
Pretty Mary pass the TAKS test and make good grades.
Little do they know that the TAKS test and consequently the curriculum
have been dumbed down beyond belief. After giving the 9th grade EOC this year, most of the
students were saying it was easy compared to the TAKS, yet they only had to make 37% to
pass. Then we all brag that 97% of our students pass. Yes, they’re passing but only
because they can push enough buttons on a calculator to get 37% of an easy test correct.
Maybe some of these complaining parents can start complaining about
other important issues, like the fact that little Johnny made a B in math, passed the EOC,
yet still actually knows nothing.
You’re right, ignorance is expensive and we have a double dose of
it in many families now. The student is often ignorant of any real skills, and the parents
have no clue how little we are really teaching them.
ricknbarbAUGUST 15, 2012 AT 10:48 AM
I understand why the decision was made to make cuts in transportation,
but I disagree with the routes deemed “hazardous.” All the the kids in my particular
section of Cinco Ranch are no longer considered eligible for junior high or high school
buses because of proximity; however, crossing two major roads (Westheimer Parkway and
Cinco Ranch Blvd.) seems extremely dangerous to me. What will the district do when one of
our children gets struck by a car?
This decision will result in increasing the number of car riders,
thereby creating even more hazardous conditions for the kids whose parents are unable to
arrange carpools because of work.
Time to go back to the drawing board, Katy ISD.
Just Wondering2AUGUST 15, 2012 AT 12:27 PM
Not to make light of anything, but what do you think the district WILL
do if a child is struck?
The broad and general statement that crossing a street is dangerous
probably needs to be reviewed just as saying .5 miles is close enough not to need bus
service.
At a minimum I trust the district will be placing crossing guards on
busy streets.
There are several busy streets near schools where our kids have crossed
for years. Go to the north side schools and look at the elementary on Greenhouse, or the
one on North Fry near Clay Road. In both cases a busy four lane street with the
neighborhood on one side and the school on the other. Each day kids cross (grades K-5) and
no one has been jumping up and down about it. Why now?
Just because the river is wide does not mean we can’t swim, or take a
boat across it, or use a crossing guard to get the job done.
I have taken a car tour these past few days and have come to some
conclusions. There are some hazards which we need to address and there are many locations
where the safety card has been played in error. I suspect just to get attention for the
cause. Doing so takes away from the underlying issue of real safety issues for our kids. I
would not want to walk across Cinco Ranch Blvd, but I can where there is either a crossing
guard or some other traffic control (light, stop sign come to mind) installed.
For the record, I hope if a parent truly feels their child is in
danger they will not send their child off alone to confront it on a busy street. Work
something out people, protect your kids as I doubt this issue will be solved before school
starts and maybe not afterwards.
madcatAUGUST 15, 2012 AT 9:40 PM
This could be a golden opportunity for someone who is out-of-work to
create his/her own neighborhood van line/car pool, especially for those parents who work
and so cannot participate in a neighborhood car pool. Figure the milage/distance/ cost of
gas and charge a little for the convenience.
As a teacher in the district who works the afternoon car rider
duty, I would like to also take a moment to remind the parents who drive their kids to
school and pick them up that it is now ILLEGAL to use your CELL PHONE in the school
zone…but unfortunately, you do already know that, but quit giving me a go-to-(blank) look
when I remind you that you can be fined $200 if you’re caught. I guess you would prefer to
be caught and fined. You must be rich enough to afford the fine.
Also SLOW DOWN in the school zone, and no, the traffic guards are not
“targeting” you when you come through the intersection. We are trying to keep our students
safe, and sometimes it’s from their own parents!
Also, when you drop off your child in the morning, please get off the
(blank) phone for just a minute to say good-bye to your child and to wish him/her a nice
day. That would mean a lot to some of our kids.
And please, BUCKLE UP your child! And if you are the neighborhood car
pool person, you need a seat belt for each child in the vehicle.
Really, you cannot imagine how many rules of the road and Common Sense
Rules the car rider teachers see broken by parents every day. You might live in the Katy
area, but that doesn’t exempt you from the law.
Basically, it’s all common sense.
Thank you.
Old Katy GuyAUGUST 15, 2012 AT 11:20 PM
The U.S. is in a recession, and surely there are people looking for
employment, I am sure there are plenty of applicants for the job. But then again it is
embarressing what KISD pays bus drivers, that may be part of the problem too, with such
low pay for such an important job. Maybe our BOT will consider paying a high wage for our
bus drivers and a little less wage to ESC personell who are over paid as it is. Our
superintendant is surley overpaid for his qualifications. Raise the drivers wages and do
not cut the safety of our students, Cut expenses elsewhere.
In my 60 years in Katy I have not seen such stupid decisions
made.
Just Wondering2AUGUST 16, 2012 AT 7:36 AM
In my 20+ years in Katy I have seen many stupid decisions and given
your comment you must really be upset about this one.
I need to start a top ten list as to the stupidest things to come out
of the ESC and see who wants to contribute to the listing.
I think I can personally do a top 100, but will see how others flesh it
out. If need be, I will return and add one or two more to keep this thing rolling.
Without any regard to importance or frequency, as some mistakes are
made year after year, here are the first few for your consideration.
1. $5.3 million dollar to retrofit the playing surfaces at six of our
high schools when no one wanted it except for Mr. Frailey. Today, coaches still don’t want
their kids to practice on it the same goes for band directors.
2. $1.24 million for new scoreboard
3. Terminating hundreds of teachers then having to rehire them, we lost
many good ones in the process.
4. Buying land we can’t and won’t use at top dollar prices often around
a $100K/acre
5. Refusal to reign in our debt structure
6. The expansion of Asst. Superintendents (czars) to the extent no one
can find the chief superintendent
7. Hiring Alton Frailey
8. Keeping Alton Frailey
Harry PotterAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 5:39 PM
Old Katy Guy:
Did you apply to drive?
Old Katy GuyAUGUST 17, 2012 AT 9:30 AM
Harry, I would apply if I needed the income or did not have a
job. I am a Sr VP at a world wide energy company, and I am not
above any job in this company. I have done it all and I still go into the shop and sweep
the floors with the crew in there, it gives me time to understand the concerns of
employees. Maybe Fraley should drive a bus for a week and maybe he will see what it is
really all about, maybe step into a classroom for a week and see what it is really all
about. But he thinks he is above all that. In 1968 there was a flu outbreak in Katy, and
Superintendent Taylor was subbing for sick teachers as he was in my Texas history class.
Fraley wouldn’t stoop that low.
KISD_parentAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 9:15 PM
I think we are up to 37 stupid things, although some of these items
aren’t just stupid, they cross the line into immoral.
37) Allowing the students in high school to use cell phones in the
halls. Most of them took that to mean that they could text in class or leave class every
chance they got to text (under the pretext of going to the bathroom).
38) Laying off all those teacher (yes I know it’s already listed) IN
SUCH A CRUEL AND UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER.
katymom6AUGUST 16, 2012 AT 10:47 AM
As a parent of children that attend secondary schools, I was aware of
the new transportation rule. What KISD failed to do was inform the parents of the details
of how the plan was going to be implemented. The new bus route information was not even
made available until August 6, leaving us very little time to make alternative plans for
transportation.
The district drew a one mile circle around each secondary school to
decide whether the students are entitled to bus service. They did not take into
consideration of any barriers blocking their path to get to the school. According to KISD,
my house is .7 of a mile from their school. The distance they would have to walk is nearly
2 miles due to a bayou, private property and a gated community. The district did not
measure along the shortest route that can be traveled on public roads or pathways. With
over 4,000 students and staff going to SLHS, and over 1,500 headed to BDJH or SLJH within
a 30 minute time frame, South Fry Road will be an extremely hazardous road.
Mary McGarrAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 10:51 AM
9. Paying Alton Frailey $288,400 plus perks (2010)
10. Allowing administrator Ron Jetton to tell principals which teachers
had voted early and that they should get ALL of their teachers to the polls for a
bond/board election in 2006
11. Naming the Arena after Leonard Merrell
12. Hiring seven or so people to be rental agents for the Arena
13. Letting the Waller CAD be housed in the administration building for
twenty five years taking up space
14. Putting the definition of “pulbic lewdness” in the Discipline
Management Plan for all students to read
15. Including in the Dress Code the forbidding of anyone to wear a Star
of David around their neck
16. Using the KISD police to give traffic tickets to people driving on
the Grand Parkway
17. Sending students to the OAC BEFORE any legal charges have been
filed against them
18. Teaching reading using the whole language approach
19. Not accepting John Saxon’s offer of free math textbooks for a high
school and a junior high if they would just be tried out
20. Retaining a Central Office administrator who doesn’t understand
that the Texas Legislature meets every TWO years and that the budget covers TWO years, not
one.
21. Developing and using KMAC
22. Hiring Xpediant
23. Buying the Zangle software
24. Increasing Kindergarten to full days instead of half days without
any public discussion
25. Using school board “committees” to make decisions the elected
school board should be making
26. Naming schools for administrators (each other) instead of public
heroes or prominent citizens or teachers whose fame is older than twenty years or so.
27. Using the same architects for all the schools built since 1999.
28. Hiring a superintendent who doesn’t have an educational doctorate.
29. Using the DARE program for years and years until just recently
jagardnerAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 10:35 PM
Ms. McGarr,
Just for my own information,
“15. Including in the Dress Code the forbidding of anyone to wear a
Star of David around their neck”….
Is this in an active handbook/dress code????
Is it for teachers? Or for students?
Mary McGarrAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 10:53 PM
Please note that my list goes back many years. That item in the
Discipline Management Plan was highlighted in a magazine article before I was elected to
the board. I think there were three months of articles in the Houston City Magazine (or
something like that.) No one could believe that the administration put that in there.
jagardnerAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 11:03 PM
Ms. McGarr,
Thanks for the quick response.
lost my mindAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 12:57 PM
30. Daring to set up an IB program costing millions of dollars in
operational expenses at the same time Alton was firing teachers due to budget concerns.
31. Discussion of a new 16,000 to 18,000 seat stadium possibly next
door to the current stadium
32. Letting go of the RNs and then finding out we saved NO money
using LVNs
33. Using a crooked law firm to collect back taxes.
34. Padding bond requests by 30% and then going on a spending
binge each time and claim we bought the new stuff with “savings.”
ledettmAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 7:04 PM
35) Web 2.0, Animoto, Edmodo, etc
36) Installing a second Wifi network in the schools for the students.
determinedmomAUGUST 17, 2012 AT 12:34 AM
37) Silencing members of the community and banning them from
speaking…forever on subjects to their dislike
38) Escorting members of the community by force from meetings that
continue to exersice their freedom and authority to speak
39) Training KISD board members NOT to speak with members of the
community and that they do not need to ….Parents please attend the training sessions also.
It will widen your eyes and educate you!
40) Fundamentally insisting on changing the foundation of our Country
by sending declarations we are “a democracy” when the Constitution clearly states in
Article 4 that Congress shall maintain a Republican form of government.
41) Firing teachers when not clearly stating all the funds
available to the district in investments. We have more money than you are aware of.
AstrosFanAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 2:20 PM
It would seem like the “routing” system, whereas identifying students
eligible for bus service based upon the actual shortest legal route they can take, is a
no-brainer. Sure, it would have taken more time, but it’s the right thing to do. Fixing
this single problem would seem to cure a lot of the issues. Then, they can focus on the
dangerous intersection thing.
lost my mindAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 2:30 PM
Got a question for you A. F.
What does the district do when they go through this new
experiment and restores bus routes and still can’t find a driver
We assume the ESC told us the truth about not being able to find bodies
to sit behind the wheel, how does “correcting” the situation change anything?
So did they tell you they were going to add routes or just rework some
numbers? And if they rework these routes and use a different method is there another set
of students who will LOSE their ride in the process?
Sometimes there are unintended consequences when changes are made
which is what the matter at hand is all about. Isn’t it?
babytigerAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 2:52 PM
This is an easy problem to solve… Everyone who wants to be a bus driver
and can pass the requirements, go fill out an application and when they have more than
enough drivers to met demand they’ll have to restore service to the previous level… The
district will even pay for your CDL.. We’ll have a bunch of new sidewalks and get to order
$4m in new buses with the bond money…
Just Wondering2AUGUST 16, 2012 AT 3:13 PM
Hey everyone, I think BT is starting to come over to the dark side and
is showing dangerous signs of common sense and fiscal responsibility.
That won’t play well at the ESC.
BT they might revoke your parking permit if you are not more careful.
Nice post!
BT, I assume your posting is in response to those who are suggesting an
INCREASE in the transportation costs by hiring more drivers and paying them more. Dealing
with increasing fuel bills, the need to buy those buses we put on hold, and paying
interest on that debt.
PLUS: more buses, more exposure, more costly insurance premiums.
If you are coming out of the conservative closet so to speak and are
standing in opposition to the spend and then spend some more mentality especially after we
took over $600K out of the operational budget for sidewalks, you might be called a
“Village Idiot.” On behalf of other VIs scattered across the land, we might be able to
welcome you if we can be sure this isn’t a trick or a Trojan Horse play on your part.
babytigerAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 4:04 PM
Ha! Clearly you’ve bought into the line of me being an “Admin Guy”… I
don’t need a parking pass because I have a Bat Phone… Two of them, actually (and no they
don’t go to Frailey’s office)…
Nope… I’ve been told the real problem IS the driver issue… If things
are so bad that people need work then why pay more than any other district? Are we lower
than the norm? I say pay market and give out some jobs… That does skew the support/teacher
ratio everyone complains about but, hey, can’t have it both ways… The potential savings
would then be a logical by product of any reduction in services and not needing additional
staff (that doesn’t seem to want to do the job)… If the district has the money to pay for
additional drivers, had it budgeted, had bond money available for the buses AND they could
fill the slots, then this problem would not exist…
So, plan B was presented and we needed to provide some level of a safe
walking path for the kids… Seems reasonable if you have to make them walk AND you can get
it done… Where the money came from is beside the point because at the end of the day we 1)
had to spend it, 2) it didn’t impact teaching staff (no cuts), 3) was a one time expense
and 4) didn’t incur additional debt… A benefit to the story was we didn’t have to incur an
additional $300k in annual expenses or $4 million in bond debt… That would appear to be a
plus…
Ross, I think most everyone would agree that the BOT isn’t responsible
for micro managing the implementation of a plan, just reviewing what’s presented,
evaluating the pros and cons and then either accepting or rejecting the proposal… If there
are issues they can step in and ask for some tweaking… That’s what they did in this
instance and that’s what they are expected to do… Communications went downstream and we’re
seeing some action on the other end…
Now, if we find there are a line of potential bus drivers over at the
ESC filling out applications it would seem that the sidewalk expense wasn’t necessary and
kids have a place to play hop scotch… Looking at the entire issue, removing all of the
hazards for the walkers and making adjustments to ensure their safety, the only thing left
is that:
1) We still don’t have drivers and
2) Some people will still fall within the “walking zone” and they won’t
like it either…
Just some thoughts from inside this wooden horse which, by the way, is
shaped like a crouching tiger…
madcatAUGUST 16, 2012 AT 8:16 PM
So they restore the usual bus routes. I’m willing to bet that a bunch
of the people gripping about it will still drive their kids to school. It used to be that
Katy ISD was one of the few districts who had a bus for every kid in the district, even if
you lived within a block of the school.
Even with that we still have ridiculously long lines in the afternoon
for car riders. I asked our students why and many of them said their parents didn’t want
them riding the bus due to the misbehavior that occurs on them.
It’s not because of the drivers- in all my years I’ve never heard of a
Katy ISD bus driver being in an accident, but because of the students on the buses.
So, my prediction will be that the long car rider lines will
continue despite their being bus service restored.
omg-reallyAUGUST 17, 2012 AT 8:41 PM
Really? What I hear is a lot of people complaining about the fact that
they are going to have to be responsible for the children that they are supposed to be
responsible for. Oh my what a concept. Get your kid a bike! 2-3-5-10 miles is nothing on a
bike, get a proposal to have the police or someone certified to come to the schools to
teach bike safety to the students. I see many solutions being taken care of…students
wouldn’t have to walk, long parent lines will be shorter, the district will not need as
many drivers, students will be getting healthier from the ride. Madcat thumbs up to you!
Cincomom3AUGUST 21, 2012 AT 11:16 PM
As much as I’d love to lay all of this at Fraileys and the BOT feet. I
doubt it’s the pay either. A whole lot of parents need to take an honest appraisal of
their little darlings. I wouldn’t let my children ride the buses. They had been spit on,
had gum put in their hair, punched, kicked and bitten. There isn’t enough money to put up
with a bus full of horribly behaved little brats and older kids that are aggressive and
violent day after day.
Also, I’d like to add to your list of screw ups.
(not sure what #) KISD information office giving students emergency
contact information to a PAC, which Joe Adams was involved with. So that the PAC could
repeatedly badger us with robocalls with lies for the last bond election.
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