WTOC 11 Savannah, GA has had their hands full with First Student stories. I should know, many of their stories have been covered here. Now, employees at First Student's yard in Savannah went on local radio station WSOK radio to defend the bus company and assure parents that First Student's buses are safe and they know what they are doing.
Unfortunately, I was unable to locate and listen to the conversation, however this does show an interesting turn of events for First Student: Instead of hiding and giving textbook answers (which I am extremly familiar with), this location took a proactive approach, and actually took questions from the community. Whether they were taking the usual route of "it's not our fault" or actually taking blame for the incidents I don't know, and hopefully someone can let me know.
This actually brings up a conversation I had with a First Student dispatcher in West Baton Rouge Parish earlier today. I called the office, just a little perturbed (waiting 45 minutes for a bus after school lets out is not exactly timely bus service) and asked to speak to a supervisor. The employee answering phones transferred me to a dispatcher, Yolandre Moore, who basically blamed the wait on the bus taking three routes. A "North" route (Port Allen schools), a South (Brusly and Addis) Elementary route, and then our route. Elementary school kids were still on the bus, which is not exactly safe (Why? Go find a 2nd grader, then find a 8th grader. Got it?) Then she blamed that on the parish not providing enough money for buses. So, what happened to all that money given to them in the original five-year contract?
I'm going to place calls in to the school board this weekend, and hopefully they'll get back to me next week.
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Student First, should be called Student last, or perhaps Safety last. This company that is new to Chatham County public school's system has proven itself quickly to not be an improvement over prior organizations that handled transportation for local students.
Last week I called the local number for Student First, only to receive a voice mail, which I left three messages that of course were never returned regarding my students bus route. I called initially because I did not see our neighborhood, StoneBridge listed this year on the route stops.
Student First's bus for my ten year old daughter, passes by my neighborhood in Berwick Plantation, and stops at Southbridge or Legacy square. Each one of those stops is more than a 20 minute walk for my daughter and I, not to mention I have another child at a different school that its impossible to get them both on the bus at the same time.
As a single mother this is more than difficult and I shouldn't have to rely on having help, to do what I am legally entitled to!
In theory, they are denying access to the public school system to my children because I cant be in two places at one time.
This is what I was told when my call was finally returned yesterday evening, after leaving four messages. I called complaining that due to a recent accident, that I physically cant drive, not to mention I have not replaced my vehicle yet ( in my opinion this should not even be a part of this story, but this prompted my calls).
I was told to add my neighborhood, which was on the route in prior years so we wouldn't have a 20 min walk to and from a bus stop that I need to have a "safety check" preformed which may not even be passed, so it is in question that a stop would even be created and this process would take at least a month for some one to facilitate this "safety check".
Berwick Blvd must have ten communities on it, and a busy shopping center with a huge super market, several restaurants, fast food chains and stores yet Student First thinks its safe for a ten year old theoretically to walk alone in Savannah Georgia for 40+ minutes a day ( not that I would allow that but when I said I had another child and it was impossible to be two places at one time it was SUGGESTED it was fine for her to walk alone (even though she is not of legal age to be left home alone), not to mention how nice will that be when its raining or 100+ degrees outside for a TEN year old girl to walk ALONE in traffic carrying a heavy backpack!? I wonder how far they would allow my five year old son to walk in traffic alone?
Berwick Blvd. is known for speeding and we have a permanent police unit that tells drivers that they are speeding, which does not help. The police department found that Berwick Blvd is not safe due to speeding, yet Student First needs a month or more to preform a "safety check".
This is what REALLY put me over the top. I was told that its mandated by THE SCHOOL board, that STUDENTS can walk in these conditions, at my daughters age of TEN for up to TWO MILES! TWO miles! So, its fine for my TEN year old, GIRL to walk on a busy road, exposing herself to who knows what kind of strangers, who could prey on a vulnerable young child, the elements and traffic and this is deemed normal and legal? Seriously, I wonder who made these rules? To say I am applaud is a huge understatement. I plan on approaching all forms of media and the school board regarding this serious concern.
Michelle Knighten
Che1ly@aol.com
912.844.7468
I was like you waiting for over an hour for a bus to pick my children up for school. I called and called and got only a busy signal. I decided not to be part of the problem. If you do not like the way your child's bus route is handled be part of the solution become a driver, I may not be able to make a difference in your child's life but I do make sure that 50 children get to and from school safely every day and on time>
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