In the fall of 2008, they'd already begun the process of purchasing GPS systems for more than 1,000 buses when the idea was shot down mid-air at a board meeting by former Post 1 representative Lindsey Tippins, a savvy businessman who questioned where the money was going to come from for monitoring the project after the board approved the initial outlay of taxpayer money. Ill-prepared department managers couldn't answer him, and the project was dead in the water. Tippins was not second-guessed by his fellow board members, or called names or censured by the way, for his initiative on behalf of the taxpayers.
Just months later, it was revealed to parents that department heads had made a deal with BusRadio, a controversial, Massachusetts-based company that turned out to be under fire around the country for the inappropriate music and commercial ads it sold school systems, along with supposedly free GPS equipment that allowed managers to spy on drivers. This vendor, whose contract was never voted on by elected officials, produced a report that tattled on drivers if they didn't play the station and used Cobb students in their online advertisement.
Despite CCSD's claims to the contrary, not one parent I spoke with over many months had any idea their children were held captive to this outside influence, which suddenly went belly-up last fall after being investigated by the FCC.
But at least Manager Rick Grisham was consistent with BusRadio - parents weren't notified of its coming or its going.
Today, the fleet still has BusRadio's abandoned hardware on board, yet no questions have been publicly asked or answered about the whole kerfuffle and whether or not it cost citizens money.
But maybe that's because of the subsequent fiasco, whereby Grisham and crew cut approximately 11,000 bus stops just days before school began, creating a county-wide uproar that took weeks to remedy.
Slicker than snot on a doorknob, blame for that was shifted away from managers to the poor economy, and budget cuts once again became the justification for lack of good leadership or judgment. Meanwhile, stops such as the one outside my house can have up to 30 children converging on them a few times a day, and parents wonder why we can't return to the way it was before, yes, even in other lean budget years.
Now the transportation department is under investigation by a grand jury, and officials act as though it's no biggie.
A large banner lauding the manager in question is hoisted outside the bus barn on the day of the jury's visit, great PR. But even more amazing, the school board rewards department managers with almost a million dollars to pay for yet another venture - more communication technology that longtime employees say is unnecessary.
The board unanimously approved the huge expenditure at the last board meeting, with nary a question asked about the pros and cons of the technology. At the same time, they seem determined to ignore longtime employees who've alleged budget cuts and short cuts, along with poor management, have decimated fleet maintenance and student safety.
What will it take to get parents' attention or board action? Will anyone ever take responsibility for the state of Cobb's school buses?
lbarmstrong3378@comcast.net
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Just because a driver is unhappy, does not mean that they do not like their job. I was very unhappy and 2/12/10, We unhappy drivers drove the children of Cobb County home in very slippery conditions. Every driver out there was praying to God that they could get your children home safely, then get home safely. Just because drivers are unhappy with the poor choices that the higher up make, like sending your children home on very dangerous roads, does not mean that they don't love their jobs
Sally we are wanting changes that will also protect the children of Cobb County. It is not safe for children to walk so far to their bus stops in the dark and the bad weather, even high school and middle school. The state says that elementary children can walk "1" mile to their stop and high and middle school 1 1/2 miles. Do you want your child walking that far? Do you not want your child on a bus that is safe? Hiring new drivers, I am all for anyone working for the county, regardless of the national origin. But the other day a driver was talking to dispatch with an accent so strong I'm impressed that dispatch knew what he said.(After asking him several times? If there is an emergency on your childs bus, don't you want dispatch to be able to understand and be able to send help?
Sally, we want people in the office that say they will back drivers, and mean it. We want people who will put the safety of the children first. We want people that says that the buses will be fixed and fix them. I know of 2 drivers who drove when the temps were in the teens with no heat. Don't you want your child on a bus with heat. PARENTS STAND UP AND DEMAND THE BEST FOR YOUR CHILD, SAFE WARM BUSES, DRIVERS WITH HEART, AND PEOPLE IN CHARGE THAT PUT YOUR CHILD FIRST.
When these things are fixed, then I will worry about driver pay, and benefits.
I am not a disgruntal employee. I love my job, I lover working with the children, If my bus does not start, or something is found on the pre-trip that makes driving unsafe, I worry about my kids being left at the bus stop waiting. A "lot" of parents send their children to the bus stop alone, in the dark, anything can happen to that child. Every morning I pray for the saftey of my children on my bus, and as a lot of drivers drive sick so my children will not be left alone in the dark. And by the way parents "take school bus behavior seriously." Don't just say the driver does not like my child. Make your child stay seated and talk quietly so we can drive safley.
Elizabeth Checkley, what makes you believe you can control who blogs on the MDJ site? Jimmy Hoffa?
A person commits theft if he obtains property of another by deception. A person deceives if he intentionally:
(1) Creates or reinforces a false impression, including false impressions as to law, value, intention, or other state of mind; but deception as to a person's intention to perform a promise shall not be inferred from the fact alone that he did not subsequently perform the promise; or
(2) Prevents another from acquiring information which would affect his judgment of a transaction; or
(3) Fails to correct a false impression which the deceiver previously created or reinforced, or which the deceiver knows to be influencing another to whom he stands in a fiduciary or confidential relationship....
ATTN: BROCK & CLAY
THE SCHOOL BOARD YOU REPRESENT IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THIS!!!!!!
You have the right to voice your opinion, as do I. The time has come for management to take control of the operations and stop letting the "entitled" workers call all the shots.
Even if employees were disgruntled, why would they initiate all this if they could simply be proven wrong with evidence? You should be demanding evidence of safe buses from the management, not the reporter. And why would employees endanger their jobs in this economy, when they know finding another job would be almost impossible? The answer is the most obvious: things have reached a point where they don't want to be associated with unsafe conditions or an accident waiting to happen.
Because of the history of poor leadership in the CCSD and when all it takes are one or two articles on a topic to prompt a Grand Jury investigation and the investigation is currently active, why would any paper or reporter continue to reveal the details or specifics of incriminating material they hold, if it might jeopardize the investigation? Maybe they've given the information to the appropriate authorities. But why would you suggest they might want to tip off those being investigated, who likely have something to hide? Carrie P., your naivetee is surpassed only by your obvious attachment to someone in transportation management. This is about the safety of our children, not some bus drivers who are mad at their boss for inexplicable reasons. Employees have stepped forward to say the buses are not safe. Instead of all this spin, why can't someone in a position of authority simply stand up and say, "We are going to review our practices and our bus fleet and make sure they are safe. We will work to address the allegations against the deparment. We will work on the satisfaction of our drivers, the people who care for your kids each day. Then we will work to regain the trust and confidence of the thousands of families who trust us with those children." How about letting parents talk to drivers, or even get on the buses? Only after safety is addressed, should the department hash out their ridiculous employee relations problem -- internally if you please. Parents do not care whether this manager is popular, but we do want assurances our children are riding on safe buses. And so far, nothing I've seen gives me confidence in the Board or Sanderson's questionable chain of command. This is pitiful. Can't wait to hear what the Grand Jury has to say. Will there be indictments?