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Posted on Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 10:33 a.m.

Ann Arbor school transportation system needs fixing

By Guest Column

The changes to Ann Arbor’s school transportation have caused a great deal of disruption, anxiety and inconvenience for parents and students. Many factors led to this situation. Some were inevitable, given the scope of budget reductions. Some could have been avoided with better planning, and some are just plain inexcusable.

The bottom line is, the system is broken and needs to be fixed. Here’s how:

051511_andy-thomas.jpg

Andy Thomas

1. We need to do a better job engaging communities. This means providing meaningful information as early in the process as possible, seeking out community input (rather than waiting for people to demand it), and following up with communities to make sure problems are being addressed.

2. The district needs to be more proactive in identifying “safe routes to school” and assuring parents that these routes are indeed safe. We need closer cooperation with the city to provide crossing guards, better speed limit enforcement, traffic signs at all school zones and timely snow removal on city-maintained paths.

3. The district must demand better service from Washtenaw Intermediate School District. Many of the most serious and persistent problems encountered this year are due to poor execution by WISD: overcrowding on the buses, phones not answered, lack of communication between drivers and dispatchers, not enough buses in service, drivers not adequately trained, inaccurate distance measurements and numerous other issues. These problems need to be corrected immediately — or we need to find a different transportation vendor.

Superintendent (Patricia) Green, Deputy Superintendent (Robert) Allen, and many others have been working hard to fix these problems. Numerous issues have already been addressed, and others are well on the way to being fixed. Together, we will work this out.

Andy Thomas is a trustee on the Ann Arbor Board of Education.

Comments

jcj

Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:08 p.m.

Local As to your point about Dr Green. You are absolutely correct. If someone had not been in town during the supt search they would not even know we had one!

jcj

Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:06 p.m.

Mr Thomas As many have pointed out, It is so easy to see through this charade! Typical politician mumbo jumbo. NEVER make specific recommendations and pretend that YOU had no part in any decisions that went bad.

Basic Bob

Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.

The district still has a sizable transportation department. Combined with the experience of the WIDS transportation department, they should have considered the reduction in bus service thoroughly, rather than just reducing bus services arbitrarily to achieve a target cost. The board needs to ensure that competent individuals are managing the transportation needs of the students, and that they are supported by the administration. Lack of communication and blaming the supplier (WISD) are excuses for responsible AAPS employees not doing their jobs effectively. Had board members listened to the clearly stated needs of outlying parts of the district, the administration would not have reduced high school bus routes by half in areas that were already using the bus service to capacity, and have fewer alternatives such as AATA or Mom & Dad. The board needs to consider how it can meet the needs of the entire district rather than a few privileged neighborhoods and special interest groups. During all of this downsizing, the superfluous transportation costs of Community High School shuttles remain untouched. It seems likely that the board has directed the transportation department explicitly to continue this service with no reductions. While this may be a political necessity, it is morally and ethically unsupportable.

DonBee

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 8:55 p.m.

Mr. Thomas - You were part and parcel to this change. You are RESPONSIBLE. You and the rest of the BOE decided to take the cuts offered by the administration and accept them. Busing is a mess, the BOE decided to deep six a busing study that could have solved many of the problems, and even kept busing local, but no, it was too hard. Consolidation with WISD, then abandoning the townships for high school students. The administration decided to protect their own, there were few or no cuts to the administration, one of the most out of line budget items in the AAPS budget. The district has been top heavy and continues to be top heavy. Cutting administration to the average per student of similar sized districts would have saved between $4 and 5 million dollars, but NO, the BOE decides to give the administration yet more money. The interviews for administrators continue, as positions in ADMINISTRATION are being filled. No more teachers, no more buses, but assistant and deputy superintendents, sure, more, more, more! Yes, there were some retirements, yes the new super paid superintendent deserves to pick some of her own people, no issues there. But to send a podcast to parent meetings? I am sorry, this is over the top. This is starting to feel like Rossi Ray-Taylor all over again! I have to wonder what count day will tell us? Don't you?

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 10:11 p.m.

Still complainin' about the transportation plan, DonBee? I think it's called "karma". GN&GL

Ahmar Iqbal

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.

Actually, the safe bus stop and school transportation is just one issue where the current school board has not pursued any accountability. In May, high school freshmen sports were cut then a U-turn resulted after parent outrage. Similar was the issue with shared elementary principals. Now the busing debacle where lack of community input, increases the community distrust with the school board and administration. Moreover, the school board has not demanded any accountability from either the administration or by examining the processes which resulted in this "stakeholder disconnect." In the last school board meeting, two contracts over $400,000 were approved without competitive / multiple bidding. On one hand, the school board and administration say the budget is choking them, but then does not adopt standard practices (forget best practices) in making sure the schools are getting the best bang for buck. Ann Arbor schools annual operating budget of $185 million is larger than many community colleges and universities. Unfortunately it is also large enough to hide wasteful spending. Definitely community engagement needs to be addressed, but this past year, several issues have sparked parents and the result is still "business as usual" and a reactionary mode by the school board and administration. Hence no discussion on real issues like smaller class size, better programs, etc. Instead of being a "hands on leader" and personally attending the safe bus stop community meetings with 80-100 parents on 3 separate occasions, the new superintendent sent a video podcast to the group. Here is the link, <a href="http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/parents/superintendent_on_2011-12_transportation_changes" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/parents/superintendent_on_2011-12_transportation_changes</a> Is this type of community engagement by the superintendent acceptable by the existing school board??? Where is the accountability??? For the record, I am a candidate for the school board trustee in this upcoming Nov. 8, 2011 election.

Basic Bob

Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 3:10 a.m.

One would believe that the board assessed the written and oral communication skills of the superintendent during the hiring process. One would also believe that effective written and oral communication is written into the job description and contract. These skills need to be demonstrated consistently by the superintendent. Three months have passed, and I have no evidence to give her a passing grade.

cette

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 5:52 p.m.

Careful complaining about that superintendent, she may be one day be making you look good. Is it accountability you want or attention?

YpsiLivin

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.

When you look at the number of accommodations made in the public school systems for busing - start and end times for school days, staggered start times among other buildings, snow days and &quot;cold days&quot;, pick-up and drop-off times that start as early as 6:15 A.M. and end as late as 5:45 P.M., each school district operating its very own transportation system, bus garage, mechanics, drivers, etc. - at what point do you admit that the tail is wagging the dog?

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.

I guess I don't see the point of this except as a free campaign advertisement for Mr. Thomas's re-election. Let me see if I can sum up this letter: 1) The district must do a better job 2) The new superintendent with the help of me (Mr. Thomas) will work this out. Question: Where was Mr. Thomas and what was he doing before the district transportation plan was announced? Disclaimer: I have no problem with the district's transportation plan. I think it makes the best of a bad situation forced upon this and other districts by the governor's draconian cuts to schools in favor of $1.8 billion in giveaways to his business buddies. But I DO have a problem with an elected official pandering to public anger rather than owning up to their role in the process that led to the decision that was made. Guess I've decided on one candidate for whom I will not vote. Good Night and Good Luck

local

Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 3:53 p.m.

Andy, didn't you vote to consolidate and have WISD run the busing for Ann Arbor? Why now are you coming forth with these ideas when this could have been discussed last year when decisions were being made about saving money through busing? I am guessing you are up for re-election this November and it sounds good for those who are upset. However, you have been part of the board that could have had these conversation last May and June when decisions were being made and you didn't. As far as Dr. Green goes, most of the public hasn't heard much from her except to say that with things in Lansing not getting solved, things will get worse. That extra money we paid her is really paying off!!