Get It Straight!

First Student Canada Charged with Permitting Operation of Unsafe Vehicle

2008-03-26T21:58:00.002-05:00

Following an accident on March 17th, 2008 in which a bus lost it's tire while on the road, First Student's Canadian division is being charged with Permitting Operation of an Unsafe Vehicle, and the driver has as well. No students were on the bus at the time, but First Student and the driver allegedly knew the bus was unsafe.

Origional story

Child Left Miles From Home, First Student Sued

2008-03-17T06:58:00.002-05:00

A 6-year-old boy was left miles from home, and now his family is suing the driver, First Student, and the school district.

Anastasia and John Nikolopoulos filed the lawsuit in Scott County District Court against Kathryn Gilbraith, First Student and the Davenport Community School District. They are seeking damages amounting to more than $5,000.

Gilbraith, who could not be reached for comment, “had a duty not to endanger the health, safety and/or welfare of the children she transported,” the lawsuit says. Gilbraith was convicted of child endangerment and sentenced to a year probation and a $500 fine. She was fired from her job.

The bus picked the boy up, but when it arrived at Eisenhower Elementary School, the child did not get off the bus.

The bus continued on to pick up children heading to Adams Elementary School, officials said. At some point, the boy realized the children on the bus were not the ones he usually rides to school with and told the driver he needed to go to Eisenhower. She thought the child had just gotten on the bus when it stopped along Sturdevant Street.

“All he could say is ‘I need 911,’” Jo Robbins said at the time. “Poor little guy. He was just so scared. I sat him on my step and helped him out a bit. It’s not a very good neighborhood where I live. I am just glad nothing happened to him.”

Gilbraith, who had worked for the company for two years, said at the time she was a substitute driver on a bus route she had never done before. Another driver was along to learn the route, too, she said.

First Student would not comment on litigation.

Costs Going Up for Parents, First Student/Laidlaw Merger Blamed

2008-03-03T18:43:00.002-06:00

In Weymouth, Massachusetts, parents are required to pay to use the school's bus services, run by First Student. However, as a result of the Laidlaw and First Student merger, costs are going up.

We actually had only one responsive bidder, and that was the First Student Laidlaw Company, and we've been very happy with First Student, so it wasn't that we were looking necessarily to get a different bidder, but it would be better for pricing purposes to have at least one major competitor.

Mary Jo Livingstone, the Weymouth Superintendent of Schools, says in past years, it was typical for the town to get several major bidders for its bus contract.

MARY JO LIVINGSTONE: Mostly First Student and Laidlaw were the two companies that would bid for our business.

THYS: And then, last year, because of the merger, everything changed.

First Student's merger will cost many school districts more money at their next contract negotiation. Even though in this case the costs were transferred directly to parents, it will hit other districts in their budgets, possibly leading to cuts in other important school activities.

Original story

Negotiations to Continue with First Student Canada, No Strike for Now

2008-02-23T20:50:00.003-06:00

In contrast to the last story we reported on, the CAW has said that it will not strike with First Student Canada for the time beings and that negotiations will continue until March.

First Student Canada Strike Imminent: Parents Being Notified

2008-02-23T11:43:00.002-06:00

Employees of the Hawkestone Division of First Student Canada, which was aquired by First Student in 2007 as a result of the Laidlaw merger, could strike as early as Monday. Parents in the Mississauga area are being alerted that they may need to find alternative transportation for their special education and special needs students, who may be without bus service indefinitely if the strike lingers.

Parents are being urged to call First Student for any questions.

Canadian Special Education Students May Be Without Busing as a First Student Canada District Could Strike

2008-02-13T20:55:00.002-06:00

Although First Student is best known for their operations in the United Kingdom and more recently the United States, but they do have a Canadian counterpart. The Mississauga Hawkestone district of First Student of Canada could strike as early as February 22nd. Although it's not clear what exactly they are striking over.

If the strike happens, over 157 buses and vans run by First Student of Canada could be parked. The Peel Board is notifying parents of the possible strike.

Parents with questions can call the Peel Board at 905-890-1010, or First Student of Canada at 1-866-721-4287.

First Student Responds to St. Paul girl who suffers frostbite: It was the right stop, it was just the wrong one.

2008-02-13T20:14:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, we reported on a 7th grader in St. Paul who was dropped off at the wrong stop and suffered frostbite. You can read our story here.

On yesterday, we reported about a 7th grader who was dropped off at what was assumed to be the wrong stop, and suffered frostbite on her fingers and toes. Now, First Student is speaking out about the incident. Unfortunately, they are also blaming the student, saying that 13 year-old Kai Thao, who is still in the hospital but recovering, might not have recognized her stop.

Interestingly enough, this is another story where First Student blames everybody else but themselves for what is arguably their problem. First says their extra curricular route is differant than their normal school route, and that Thao may not have recognized her stop.

According to First Student spokeswoman Kimberly Mulcahy:

If she was accustomed to passing a certain number of stops and then getting off, well, now she is on a different bus going on a different route and making different designated stops.

Interestingly, according to Mulcahy, First Student doesn't allow their drivers to bring students to their own homes. Get it Straight! has contacted Ms. Mulcahy about that.

The school staff has also added some information. From Jr. High School Principal Tim Williams:

Information about those changes in the after-school route was sent home with students the week before it began, Williams said. In addition, Thao's teacher asked her whether she knew her bus and stop on that first day of after-school classes. The teacher made a point to do this, the principal said, because Thao also got off at the wrong bus stop on her first day of school at Humboldt.
Williams said Thao told the teacher that she knew where to get off the bus.

Interestingly enough, our story yesterday reported that Thao doesn't speak much English. So it is possible she didn't understand the question.

Thao's family unfortunatly is learning a lesson about First Student's business practices first hand. From Maly Vang:

"I'm just disappointed that everybody says they did the right thing and she did the wrong thing," Vang said. "She's a young girl who was scared. And that driver just told her to get off the bus."

We'll keep you up to date.

See origional story

First Student Driver in St. Paul Drops 7th Grader at Wrong Stop, Girl Suffers Frostbite

2008-02-12T18:05:00.001-06:00

In St. Paul, MN, a First Student driver dropped a 7th grade girl from Humboldt Junior High School off at a stop that was, acording to First Student "close" to the girl's normal stop. However, Kai Thao, who doesn't speak much English, was lost for several hours and suffered frostbite.

A 13-year-old girl was recovering today in Regions Hospital after her school bus dropped her off in the bitter cold after school Monday and she was unable to find her way home for several hours.
"I was so scared," said Kai Thao, 13, a 7th-grader at Humboldt Junior High School in St. Paul.
A jogger found Kai Thao - who was dressed in a thin coat and tennis shoes - at an intersection and drove her home around 8 p.m., more than three hours after the bus let her off.
She suffered frostbite on her fingers and toes. She was in fair condition Tuesday and improving, a hospital spokeswoman said, and she is unlikely to suffer tissue damage.

The high in St. Paul Monday was in the teens.
See original story

Laidlaw/First Student Sued Over "unsafe and polluting buses"

2008-02-12T17:21:00.000-06:00

Laidlaw Transit, Inc., now a part of First Student, is being sued in San Francisco charging that violated their contract with the San Francisco Unified School District by operating buses that were unsafe and pollution-heavy.

See original story

The suit was filed by two former mechanics at Laidlaw and joined by the Environmental Law Foundation.
The mechanics, William Padilla and Manuel Contreras, testified last year in another lawsuit that Laidlaw has had poor maintenance practices for years, and that it falsified repair records, kept unsafe buses in service, faked pollution tests and did not meet the District's stringent standards for emissions and pollution control equipment on the school buses. Safety claims include faulty brakes, leaking fuel and cracked tailpipes.

Get it Straight Down: That's My Bad

2008-02-08T22:47:00.000-06:00

You may have noticed that Get it Straight has been unavailable since Monday. This was a result of work on another blog, and it happened to affect all of our blogs. So, we should be back up by Saturday. I want to apologize and thank you for your cooperation!

-Kevin

First Student Hires Monitor to Protect Worker's Right to Unionize

2008-01-19T20:11:00.000-06:00

First Student has set up an Internal Monitor's Office to help workers "freely decide whether to join a union".

The monitor, William B. Gould IV, a professor emeritus at Stanford University Law School and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, said he hopes the effort will serve as a potential model for other companies.

Supported by a six-person staff, Gould said he will investigate workers' complaints and report findings to company officials.

It seems First is trying to extend an olive branch to it's many disenfranchised workers, but not all unions and employees agree with the creation.

And while the Teamsters Union, which has been trying hard to organize First Student's 68,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada, has high regard for Gould, union officials said they don't like the fact they had no input in the decision.

The Teamsters' President sent a letter to FirstGroup PLC, First Student's parent company, outlining his concerns about the new monitor at First. Liz Valdes, First spokewoman, mentioned the effort started January 1st "to give employees another chance to let us know how they feel." The company does not take an official stance on unions, but historically First Student has not been welcoming to unions, threating termination of employees who join unions.

Original story

School District Transportation Supervisor Expects First Student's Contract Costs To Rise As A Result Of Laidlaw Merger

2007-12-27T14:05:00.000-06:00

Only two months late to the merger party, Council Bluffs, Iowa School District Transportation Supervisor Mike Bell told The Daily Nonpareil that he expects their transportation costs to go up, not just because of rising fuel costs and expanded bus service in the region, but also because of less competition.

He said he expects costs to go up for a number of reasons.

"This acquisition has created one huge student transportation company, and the result will be seriously less competition and probably higher contractor rates," he said.

This was an issue that was brought up before the US Dept. of Justice to try and dissuade them from approving the merger back in October.

Wisconsin First Student Location Tries To Help Fix Their Issues

2007-12-10T00:32:00.000-06:00

Wausau, Wisconsin: A First Student, former Laidlaw location is working with the D.C. Everest school district to shorten the amount of time a student spends on their buses.

"The main issue is that some kids are being picked up too early before their school bell. A junior high kid might be at school by 7:30 (a.m.) but gets picked up at 6:15 (a.m.) We need to be under 75 minutes."

Travis Ploman, First Student Contract Manager

Some of their remedies include adding four morning routes, and changing their agreement with the district to allow the school to open 25 minutes before the bell, instead of 10, which will allow the buses more time to drop off the students.

I'm always happy to see First Student cleaning up their act, and I hope other First locations take notice.

Original story.

First Student launches investigation; places driver on leave after student dragged

2007-11-26T21:31:00.000-06:00

Rochester, NY: The Olympian

A school bus driver working for First Student (apparently formerly Laidlaw) was driving a bus while an 8 year old girl was being pulled alongside the bus. First Student and the Thurston's County Sheriff's Office both launched independent investigations.

Thanks to The Olympian's wonderful will to make money, they are apparently withholding details until Tuesday's papers. If I can get more info, I'll share it.

Original story

First Student Substitute Driver Forgets to Pick Up Elementary School Kids in West Baton Rouge Parish

2007-10-26T22:14:00.000-05:00

First Student right here in West Baton Rouge Parish on Thursday slipped up again. A substitute bus driver for bus 5 completely forgot to pick up his route at Brusly Elementary, leaving an entire busload of kids stranded at the school with the school's staff, and some of the latest getting home almost 2 hours after school ended.

You may also want to see my write up on my experience with First Student and their dispatcher, who blames these issues on the parish, not First Student, here.

P.S: Thanks to Steve Purdom, who reminded me of this issue.

First Student Employees in Troublesome Savannah, Georgia Location Speak Out in Favor of First Student

2007-10-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

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.

4 Children Injured After Non-Inspected Cooling Hoses Fail on First Student Bus

2007-10-23T17:07:00.000-05:00

From WTOC 11 Savannah, Georgia (Which has been doing a lot of FS stories lately):

On Friday, four Southwest Middle School students went to the hospital after the engine cooling system on the bus erupted, spraying hot antifreeze at the children.

The same thing happened on another bus on the same day. Now, First Student is taking some serious measures to prevent any more mechanical malfunctions.

I wouldn't normally cover this if this happened once, but twice on the same day. And then this quote from a First Student manager:

"Both buses had same hoses, same failure and same location," said Cawthon. "The hose closest to the wall ruptured which allowed coolant and steam to escape the access cover and into the compartment."...

...First Student operations manager Randy Samples says he's never heard of anything like this before and the cooling system isn't normally something that needs to be inspected.

First Student: Please inspect everything.
Oh, and it's School Bus Safety Week.

Teamster's Message to Former Laidlaw, now First Student Drivers: "...there is a major problem somewhere in this company."

2007-10-18T21:01:00.000-05:00

Teamsters, a major union pushing against First Student's anti-union practices, released a message on it's page School Bus Workers United to former Laidlaw drivers who now find themselves working for First Student following the merger. The write up represents some interesting points about what exactly goes on at First Student's yards. Some interesting quotes from the article:

Another thing I recently witnessed in a location this school year, the contract manager at a First Student location in Maine announced to the workers they were giving each one of them a raise! The workers were happy they would be getting a raise until the contract manager told them it would be a five cent an hour raise!!

Someone else do the math, I don't feel like it.

Those of us who have been organizing in First Student locations weren't surprised by this amount~ this is the same company who makes their employees beg for toilet paper, office supplies, and anything else that is NOT IN THE BUDGET!!!

Always low budget, always.

Many First Student locations are run like a low budget flick! They want to run the routes as cheaply as possible, whether it means using unsafe equipment or not purchasing supplies that are needed to keep the operation running smoothly. When the mechanics have to ask to purchase motor oil or the company fails to pay their bills and lose service or the privilege of charging fuel there's a major problem somewhere in this company. [Emphasis added]

Best line anyone could have said. The entire post could have just said that and it would be correct. There is a major problem somewhere at First Student.

What may be even more interesting are the comments posted on the page by readers. I'll share one:

I am a Laidlaw driver now First Student. I am also a teamster. I have worked for a mom and pop school bus company that was swallowed up by Laidlaw. I have experienced a big company taking over. Laidlaw was number one in the business. Now I would assume that First Student will be Number One. I have spoken to several First Student drivers recently and I have also researched the First Student handbook. After filling myself with so much information I am ready to explode. -Donna LeMay

And that may be the most important part. With First Student now at #1, and void of any real, major nationwide competition, can they do just anything? The problem with contracting out school bus services is that there isn't that much choice. Basically it's now just First Student and maybe some local or regional companies. So, what happens? When you go to contracting, you really can't go back to managing your own system again. It would cost too much to start over. Eventually you run out of companies. The best solution to bus services is to do it yourself. But if it isn't possible, can't these school districts look into the past of some of these companies?

Because if your school district chose First Student, clearly they didn't.

Fired First Student Regains Contract Through Laidlaw Aquisition

2007-10-16T17:23:00.000-05:00

The Columbus City School District fired First Student last year for failing to run background checks on it's drivers, a violation of contract and state law. They instead hired Laidlaw Education Services. Yes, clearly the best alternative to keeping a bad company is hiring a company that bad company is about to buy. However, being smart, they put a few tricks in the contract to keep the newly-merged First Student from changing the Laidlaw managers.

Full story here ->

Former Laidlaw Drivers in St. Louis Walk Out

2007-10-10T07:21:00.000-05:00

Drivers working for the former Laidlaw are walking out of their jobs, claiming that First Student, which recently increased the pay of their First Student drivers in the city, is not extending those pay raises to them because they are unionized.

Full Story

Savannah Mother Upset with First Student's Safety Practices

2007-10-02T20:54:00.000-05:00

From WTOC 11:

Earlier, we reported on a Savannah, Georgia First Student yard joining a union, but one mother is still upset with First Student, after her son was hurt on a First bus.

She says it all started when a bus broke down, and First Student had to squeeze two busloads of children onto one bus. Stockton says it was a terrible ride.

"There was nowhere to sit down and it wasn't safe," he said. "Kids were standing up and when she slammed on her brakes, kids were screaming."

I don't think I personally have been stuffed in a bus of 2 in 1, but that doesn;t exactly seem safe (although the story doesn't specify how full each bus was).

While officials didn't want to go on camera, they do say the bus driver was unfamiliar with the route, and did make some quick stops because, according to the bus driver, the children weren't giving her much notice before their stops.

Bus driver unfamiliar with route? Uh, yeah, that happens way to much.

First Students say their bus driver followed proper procedures and was not at fault for what happened on the bus.

Yeah, their going to admit they're at fault.

Full Story

Moir Lockhead Speaks About First/Laidlaw

2007-10-01T17:53:00.000-05:00

Interesting video interview with the CEO of FirstGroup, Moir Lockhead about the FirstGroup/Laidlaw merger.

FirstGroup and Laidlaw Officially Merge

2007-10-01T17:39:00.000-05:00

Laidlaw is gone. As of today, visiting Laidlaw.com redirects you to FirstGroup America's new site. The two transit giants have officially merged to form "Ma Wheel".

The redesigned website has some interesting things to say about the future of our "favorite" bus company:

Over 98,000 employees are now working for FirstGroup, although they don't specify whether this is international or just in America...
Stating the obvious, Laidlaw Education Services and Laidlaw Transit Services, their school and city bus services, respectively, will join with First Student and First Transit.
In a surprising move, Greyhound will retain a seperate unit as well as retain it's brand, so no First Greyhound after all.

If you'd like to read the specifics, their offical merger info page is available here.

I, for one, would be interested in hearing what they're doing to improve the First Student experience.

First Laidlaw Merger to Close Tommorow

2007-09-30T23:14:00.000-05:00

First Group has confirmed the First/Laidlaw merger will close during the United States business hours (9am-5pm) tomorrow.

The deal, announced in February, will make FirstGroup's US school bus provider First Student the nation's largest school bus contractor, and give FirstGroup control of Greyhound, the nation's largest bus transport company.

It's over: FirstGroup and Laidlaw Merger is Approved.

2007-09-28T21:44:00.000-05:00

7 months after it's announcement, the previously proposed merger between FirstGroup, owners of First Student, and Laidlaw has been approved by the United States Department of Justice.

This clears the final hurdle for the two transit giants to merge and form one mega-corporation. The new company, will be formed once the deal closes on or around Monday, October 1st.

It's as of now unknown what the new FirstGroup will name it's newly acquired Greyhound Bus line. If their previous naming schemes are any indicator, we're betting on First Greyhound. But who knows.

We're keeping up with the merger as it progresses.