001high school district and the purpose of today the purpose of today's today's media and forum is to be able to address some of the concerns uh our community is facing some of the challenges our community is facing as well as some of the next steps um I want to thank for everyone that is going to be watching us virtually as well part of our friends that are in person I also want to thank the support for all the players that have taken the time and energy to reach out either via email telephone and also to address some options and how we can address the challenges that we're facing for our transportation department I also want to acknowledge and highly appreciating all the families that have looked at the video update that we posted 340 families
002have collected on the video and on Facebook in 248 on Tick Tock so I highly appreciate your support in staying out today with information that we're providing you all and for child protection I want to give you an update more or less of what's going on um we have a large Fleet of buses and Equipment unfortunately based on the equipment that I have inherited as a superintendent uh part of the equipment setting of based on the preliminary review of the equipment seven of the buses well we're in great conditions the six of our very good conditions terrible need a repair in for their art of permission or going to be Arsenal and in part of this equipment as a result of this review of equipment we have together we have put together a committee to
003start as early as February to see what options we have for this school year and I want to take and acknowledge the members of the community the community that has supported us along the way and including board members directors at administrators and members of the transportation department and um as early as June 19 that the community felt very comfortable with information that we had before us to be able to move forward and provide Solutions uh for the district um what are we looking for is uh to be able to provide more drivers um look in and compare are we within a competitive competitive wages and looking at how uh what additional trainings our department can benefit from how we can increase the efforts of recruiting and retaining mechanics upgrade our systems for transportation including communication
004and also based on the options what it would look like if we were to partner with one um One Transportation Company and one of the ones that is interested interested in partnering with us is inline and also what it will take to buy additional passes and rent additional equipment so based on all of this information before us um we have not only every single month looking at all the possibilities to the term of how we're going to do once again the information and the options that we have we keep it in mind number one that we want to keep our bus drivers we want to keep our team number two we want to continue to grow our own as much as possible and we want we wanted to remind the if our our employees want
005to continue working under us um even if we find with other Transportation companies what that would look like so at least I want to acknowledge and think at this point my transportation department even though we have a large breed not a lot of equipment um has been ready to be deployed and we are doing a lot with what we have um one of the greatest challenges in this at this time I also want to invite the community we have the potential to have 40 of us drivers and we manage it with eight bus drivers that um in in an effort to comply with the needs of Transportation um we have in our bus drivers to come in and pick up the kids and living cells and those students are living cells are going distributed and
006then they come back and they get the rest of the students and we're having to transfer them in in some of the schools to be able to manage with paid drivers uh having said that I mean but in the community we are in in in a search for bus drivers and bus aides so if you know anyone that would like to partner with us a new part of our team and please come and talk to us please join us that way we can provide that support um by having additional drivers what does that do to us um either also have not only more additional brows but also decreasing the amount Old-Timers schools are on the bus so more students spend two hours some of them are a little bit more than that um being still
007the shortness of bus drivers we have but yes it is too close that we're trying to accomplish um by looking at our options number one um it's been a good meeting with job quotation uh we're looking at what would it looked like if we were to partner with the the another transportation company is known as v-line um and it will allow us to expand expand our net on bus drivers um even though we've been posting for bus drivers for not only months for a couple of years we have not been successful in in bringing more bus drivers but but partnering with the transportation company they will not only allow us to borrow or or um rent service drivers that will also provide the additional mechanics that we need to maintain the equipment that will also
008be able to provide not only training but on that manager that will be able to bring the the transportation the partner the department to a whole more updated level um our bus drivers once again they doing the best they can and I I believe that our drivers based on the equipment that they also have they have been over bumpers who set up immunity um to be able to update the community we have the opportunity to send a letter a video we have done some protocols and this is part of role in a with a community rolling out the information with the community to inform them what have we been doing but also to listen to additional options that you may bring into the table our goal is that on August 8th um we we can
009bring to the government Board of recommendation of the committee and part of the recommendation is to support us in partnering with a transportation department so that we can have not only additional drivers traditional requirements but also traditional um the additional buses that we need we do not have the funding to replace a whole Fleet of equipment or buses all at once but it is our commitment that we will look and continue to invest in buses and at least two um this year and depending on the budget continue to replace the old buses with your buses every single year uh we're looking at the possibility of also selling the old equipment that will help us self survive and pay for new buses the the goal and and this one is gonna even though I like everything
010to go fast and to be taking uh or to be at rest in an expedited manner um I have to work as fast as the the vendors out there um it's not as easy to buy a car as as it is to buy a bus to buy a bus it takes about a year uh to give them an order uh equip it and bring it back good looking at some aggressive timelines that we're going to fulfill but working with all partners and having to not only um have two new buses on or free as a fleet as early as September but also to be able to rent so medicinal air conditioned buses as early as August 7th the week of August 7th part of the communication was sent out and I wanted to spend some
011time and it like I mentioned I want to make sure that the USD increases the bus drivers and so far we have interview for one more bus driver and we have we're hoping to complete that process uh before the board meeting and second one we're hoping to also if the Japanese war um okay so part of a b line but even if we don't go that route we learn who still wants to do business with us it is willing to support a shortage of bus drivers that we have as early as August 7th um like as I mentioned earlier it's we are committed in buying to additional buses and we're also going to be able to rent up to two buses possibly or depending on on the availability of buses are quality of those additional
012four buses will be air-conditioned again it's the big line the great team name will be as early as August 7th and having the Buc purchase will be as early as September uh but having to partner with an outside agency Transportation agency our goal is to we will have two full-time mechanics one is for guests um a gas gas mechanically the other one cities so mechanic um that will allow us not only to add equipment but to maintain the equipment and continue to repair early in the coming up for students and it's a drug dealers classes are safe um we're looking at the possibility of increasing household routes as I mentioned earlier right now we are experiencing local routes than usual in overcrowded us as uh more than usual due to the shortage of us drivers
013that we've had and we still want to comply with the need of our nation which is we need to transport students so they can have access to education in Curriculum by the ability to have an additional biasis and additional bus drivers that will allow us to wait strategically create arrivals not only to distribute within a sales but also external amounts and then our number one goal is to reduce the number of channels students are on the bus um some of our students that may not be the case because just if we were to have a car just for some of our students and they're they're still on the bus for at least one hour one way each day so our goal is to expedite their their route to make it as close to two hours
014by adding those routes the ability to partner with the Russell Transportation Company our goal is to increase the number of buses available for after school activities including games and also a bus for fans whenever we have some events and more exciting is we want to ensure that our bus drivers in our draft protection staff they are exposed to some of the best joining and continue to increase the customer service the latest technology and transportation the best routing technology and transportation but any other training that one of the great or big agencies job protection agencies can provide I also have a president two members of the committee I have been Sudan and president bordia and with your support I would like to also share Aubry president to the podium to share what the purpose of the
015the committee and what has been happening during the committee to address this issue if you don't mind joining me thank you sir stupid uh Juan would be here part of the governing board's responsibility especially is to try and support these types of efforts um a number of the conversations we've had specifically has been to make sure that not only our employees but the community understands that this is the effort that we're trying to put forth in order to really try to lead the need where it absolutely can be met at the same time we have to balance budgets and look at all of those things that are very important on the other side of how how we need the responses how we meet our responsibility fiscally especially but but ultimately um where those types of
016Emergency Response types of needs are are appropriate um I don't think anyone anticipated that you would have type of heat wave that we have right now I know that it is always hot during the summer and it is always always um where I feel like we we tend to understand that there's there is a need and then for whatever reason and I'm guilty of it as well we we look past it a little bit you know we'll get over it it'll be fine um and I don't want to ever discredit that a family member or or a child or the responsibility that we all have here to our students is never without thinking about all of those things all the time the the committee especially wanted to make sure uh in the experience that I
017have been on uh in the meetings is that we're protecting our employees many of them are community members many of them um know us and no other families and know the students to the degree that you know we don't ever want that to be threatened in any way uh there are a lot of different intricacies I think that the board and the committee need to be mindful of I'm really glad that the committee has been kind of really taking the standpoint in that in that sense so that the board really doesn't have to rehash those types of things um they haven't done it in this way before and I think this is the way that it should have been done part of the the conversation we have at the transportation this morning which is very
018important to legally asked you know what what are we doing wrong or why why are you bringing in someone um are we doing are we not doing it like absolutely not that is never what we thought you know they had done what they've had to do every single year because we've never had enough bus drivers and we have always had bus issues and they've always managed to make it make ends meet and to get the students where they needed to be um know what happens during the monsoon season when we know what happens during the summer time they know explicitly what to do how to do it uh what I told them is we failed you we are responsible for making sure that you have the most up-to-date equipment you have all of the necessary
019needs uh for every single moment that you have so this is not a question of us trying to replace Transportation it is holding I think ourselves to our responsibility to make sure that the best equipment is there that we're not providing self-tar service and that you all have the opportunity to be able to voice those things especially when it comes up but ultimately the superintendent and everyone else involved has been really pointed to to make sure that we're not introducing something that's going to not be beneficial to our students and to the district overall so I just really want to make sure that that's kind of expressed especially because I know that there's a lot of questions on why it takes so long or what why have you hadn't thought about it before I think
020that when we look at the overall and how much and how well the I guess how they've managed to to continue transportation to a degree that that we haven't really had to have this kind of discussion we knew it was on the horizon and I think we started to move as quickly as possible and then and then you know issues always come up so I'm grateful and I think that that overall uh what the committee will present to the board will be something that'll be be supported especially because those questions have been asked those those concerns have been have been really drilled down to you don't want to invite individuals in who are not going to understand that this is a community of individuals who all know each other who have family members who are
021we want them to have all the special care that we have from the drivers that we have who know who's getting off where and what they're doing that someone coming in as a representative of this transportation company or B-Line um understands that and that they're giving the right type of training to understand that you know the first person the child sees is the bus driver the last person the child sees the bus driver and we want you to have that same comfortability with them or with anyone who comes into the district so that has also been really drilled down um to just to ensure that we're not introducing something that's going to be harmful or or everything is scary when it's new but I'm hopeful that we're building enough of an understanding what the individuals
022who need to be able to work with them that they won't feel that way and that starts with drivers it starts with the community starts with you know everyone else that's going to be involved so I'm grateful and that's all I have so far North Carolina thank you at the second time I want to thank um the parents because I understand the squad was that our students have gone through this week and it's been extremely hard and you have made your your statements very clear and I appreciate you reaching out directly either the once again be a call Via message or even on messages on social media um I'm here to support you I want to highlight in reiterate how important are these issue is and this is one of my number one priorities as
023a superintendent I want to make sure that I address it as fast as all my other partners are working with me um some of it will what's expected to be completed you know in a long timeline but right now as part of the committee expectation is whoever we partner with that it will be able to then in an expedite manner support the needs that we have in the community this week anticipating also the giveaway bus driver was instructed to load the buses with extra water for students to be able to somehow support our students during the ride and we have enough water for the entire week if we need to extend the water based on the Heatwave we will continue to do so I'm also reaching out in in shouting out to the community that
024I need help um I need help in recruiting additional bus drivers who better than to serve a community than our own community members if you know anyone that is looking for a great opportunity I will stop by the office will be more than happy to support him not only during the application process if you don't have a past driver it doesn't matter help us be part of that training it's better if we also train you and we work with you if you feel that you don't you have the interest but you don't have the license to be able to drive a bus still come and see us we'll let you know what opportunity are available and while training opportunities are available so that you can become part of our team I want to reassure my
025community that I will make myself available if you need to come and talk to me via email in person um the telephone please do something I want to be able to address your own individual questions and if you believe between now and until we get the December drivers and bus drivers uh I mean buses and bus drivers if you feel that it will be best for your student if your time and transportation allow it I need support it up let me transport your students especially if you have any medical needs and until I'm able to resolve this issue on your behalf I do have a pair of some parents present are there any specific questions that you have or any suggestions please feel free to come forward thank you I don't have um specific questions
026I do appreciate all the information that you've given so far like I explained to you in my conversation I'm going to own that I think the the information is getting out I think it would have been a lot better having had this information before school started because uh like I also explained when it's coming from the kids and it's after the fact and then it's like oh well we knew this or we knew that and then it gets typical you know why wasn't where I went we told this I think it would have been better received have this information been known from the beginning but I do appreciate all the information that you've shared so far because it's really opened up the bigger picture and I do understand that things are not going to change
027overnight but I also think that they're used to be a short-term solution because I mean it's hot now these kids don't have okay well let's wait till September and you know it's understandable the kids that live here in the village they don't have heart to travel and it was probably you know 30 minutes and they're home from school depending on which school they go to but like you said the kids in the Villages those are the kids that are on the buses for over two hours and so I think those are the ones that are really affected by this situation I'm not too discarded you know the other kids or say that it's not the same for them because I'm sure they don't have the same thing um and in the winter it's the same
028situation I know that last year our bus or down south they were without a feeder so it just it's like in the summer it's too hot and there's no air conditioning and then in the winter it's too cold there's not here um but I think not all of these are a stepping stone a beginning solution to um you know address all those issues um I I don't know if job fairs are something that we have been considered in searching for bus drivers I think that would be a good um maybe something to do as to for the Outreach or events you partner with some of the Nations programs to see if they do have people that are interested in obtaining a CVL license or being a bus driver and maybe use out what kind of
029Suite the process along in finding solutions to that those are just my suggestions thank you and I appreciate your comments and and suggestions as well I do have one of the districts willing to step up for short-term solution so if I get more details I'll be more than happy to disclose that information but um I I am reaching out to some of the local districts and they are they're willing to partner to provide some [Music] Solutions as well so once there are more solid plans and in recommendation um I'll be more than happy to make those available and also um the some of the adjustments that we made um we were ready to hire um additional four drivers to help us as the Friday before school started unfortunately the Monday before school started that service
030was no longer a deal uh the the partner that the transportation company that we wanted to do to do this with um unfortunately was not able to provide the bus drivers that they report school started and in an effort to accommodate um that challenge we once again changed the schedule uh that is in this whole time on the day old school started to be able to accommodate um the buses that we have in the bus drivers we will continue to find short-term Solutions um and as they come forward um please stay tuned I will continue to send a video on RoboCop in in a letter to inform my parents as well from Solutions were we were able to come up with president just just to kind of because one of the things that we're finding
031as we're kind of diving more into it and the need that's available we need especially not is some of those doors are possibly moving um trading in buses that we have now but also but in addition to that in the support services that this company is going to be able to provide is really nailing down okay wherever those absolutely need to be because obviously but then as you mentioned within the community here there's probably a little bit less of a need to be very aggressive whereas those really long routes or down south are going to be where we have to focus on those absolutely need to be addressed immediately as opposed to being so but I'm really grateful that you're gonna do Transportation none of us do ultimately though this company is going to be
032able to provide that that robust type of understanding of not only where to put those things about how to really kind of focus that into and I'm not saying that we don't have that thing right now but the resources and the availability that they'll be able to provide is really kind of appealing when they came to how are you going to be able to meet this like you said immediately as opposed to down the lake which I think absolutely will be presented in the form of approval here's some of the planet incorporating all that Knowledge from the drivers and from everyone else in the community to understand that same way we have some of our other services outsourced so to speak like Food Services you know we do want them to be able to be
033understanding within the area but also provide that robust type of service that we just really can get behind and that really does provide what we need thank you I also want to point out a special shout out to one stop and we've been partnering with one star but have been able to work with us to not only to advertise that a shortage so we have the transportation about other positions and they've been working on getting one more uh person certified it's only waiting for the one person that's going to One Stop so we can steal it and keep it as possible with keeping the high school district and become part of the team um I'll be also available if there's any other agencies that I can work with I will make myself available and I
034believe Sergio had another common question uh so the committee yeah and so so from my understanding if the buses are on a commission or just the AC units the let me go back I guess the ones that are in the immediate concern affordable we're here for tonight is that correct some of the right now the buses that we have available um I believe only one has an air conditioner for all those buses the other ones um we brought some mechanics we outsourced about the mechanics and they're waiting for some parts to be a little uh to raise that air conditioning some of the buses um based on those buses once you don't get things Plus on the ones that we will be able to rent from B-Line but the ones that we're going to purchase
035we will increase the number of units that will have a world you know unfortunately um the the time frame that this has been addressed uh probably in the last year or so I don't know if the previous administration had considered some of these issues or if it was more of a what was kind of mentioned is what we'll kind of get to when you get to it depending how the situation plays out but also um it's also right now is the time for Community families to assist the school district and not just put the blame entirely on the buses because understandable uh understanding that things happen the bus could have a flat tire over the engine couldn't uh that um not be repaired so this is a time and this is a brief temporary fix
036for families and maybe uh maybe uh inconvenience to some because everybody has their own schedules in the morning and the afternoon well this is temporary uh we need to work together our kids enjoy sometimes riding with us because they have their friends they get to school earlier whereas uh maybe some students don't have that that option to um have a family member going into cells or you know wherever the workplace is at so I do hope that the community understands that this is just a temporary issue that can be resolved if we all work together and it's not just pointing the finger at the school district or Transportation because they've been doing their job and they've all been doing their job and we've been sending our kids to school transportation's been doing their part the
037USD has been providing um Community Services throughout the year so I do hope that the community does understand that let's not raise issues or point fingers or talk about each other or a community and that's where we need to focus on is short-term resolvement that's it and I appreciate the kind words um thank you two important words that you mentioned is this is an issue that is temporary I'd like I mentioned this is going to be one or has been one of my priorities since I became a superintendent secondly the best part is that it has a solution so this is going to be one of the headaches that is going to be temporary that will be able to solve um and if we all focus on the solution if we all focus on how
038to help each other um I'll be more than happy to continue to be a partner and the last thing that I know one of the options is well why why can we go virtually until the heat wave goes and and we can address that unfortunately that that is the last thing I want to do it is one of the options for a couple reasons I believe that you already have your children for too long and and I I want to be able to take your children's away from you because now they belong to us as this school year the school year has started you know children they have already um struggle enough being virtually they will do it absolutely we can do it this is the best thing for everybody temporarily maybe but it's not
039it's not uh the the number one solution um because also many other members many members of the community they don't have the benefit of staying at home and keeping the kids at home they also have to work so I don't want to now use their personal need or they not getting big if I if I if we go virtual I want the students in school my teachers want the students in school my amazing transportation department they were being bending over by us to be able to bring the kids back and take it back to school um I do take responsibility uh now I I respect what other superintendents have done where the priorities were um including having a great Primary School which is amazing um all of the upgrades or anything that has happened I
040I need to respect one of my predecessors made a priority now this is my problem and I need to address it and and I want to make sure the transportation it is my priority to ensure that my kids comes to say and we can send them back to you safe as well um um I have members of my transportation department is there any messages that you want to share with the community I just want to say you know we are doing our best to keep your kids cool you know it's a long ride it's hot you know the kids you know they're hot but we are hot just as well trying to transport them home you know we give them water bottles I have my eight going up and down you know missing and I'm
041trying to keep them cool anyway they can you know when the Sometimes some of these little ones they run out of water of course you know it's really hot and you know I I gave my water up you know I give it to them so that they're not hot or you know get dehydrated but you know this is just some things that we are trying to work out as well you know we're doing all we can and you know I think it's improving and you know um operations that had delivered all the water yesterday we have we just got a whole bunch of pellets of water that we were giving we're just gonna start giving out tomorrow but you know just bear with us we're we're trying our best you know that's all we can
042do is try once again I want to thank those are actually present um I want to again give a shout out to Metro protection department they do what they are doing Miracles and um I I am committed to continue to work with them and my parents in the community to be able to address this thing um stay tuned I will be providing additional updates um and if you have anyone any relatives that is looking for a job and have send them my work I will be more than happy to walk him through the process are there any other last minute comments or questions and if not I want to thank all of you and I want to thank everyone that is visiting uh watching us virtually and we'll stay tuned okay thank you everyone have
043a great evening and let's have the best year ever thank you thank you