Houston County School Bus Drivers - A Memo That Tim Pitchford DID Not Want You To Know In Advance

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 13032

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 22 2014 12:50 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    Houston County School Supt. Tim Pitchford has thrown a curve ball to the school bus drivers of the Houston County buses.

Pitchford sent a letter to the principals of the school system who in turn are having to meet with the school bus drivers.

The September 17, 2014 memorandum from Pitchford reads as follows: 

"After review of transportation policies and procedures from Houston, Dale, Henry, Coffee, and Geneva Counties, beginning October 1, 2014 all buses need to remain on campus during school day. Increased cost of fuel for unloaded miles coupled with safety issues in the event of a nuclear plant emergency/railcar derailment/ transport spillage of hazardous materials/etc. make it necessary for buses to be readily available for quick evacuation. Please meet with your bus drivers and notify them of the change in procedures. Have a sign in sheet with each bus driver's signature stating that they are aware that the buses are to remain on campus during the school day beginning October 1, 2014. Do not forward or give a copy this memo to anyone. Meet with the drivers directly, explain the change in procedure verbally and obtain their signature."

As we understand the principals are meeting with the bus drivers over the next few days.

Sorry Tim, your shredder is apparently on the blink cause I have had this memo but no one in the system handed me the memo. Your direction was followed in that Do not forward or give a copy this memo to anyone.    But I have had it!!!

HOW THINGS HAVE WORKED

As you know from the vandalism and issues with crime, most school buses are carried home by the school bus drivers. The driver leaves their homes and begins the school bus routes. Some children get on the bus at 6:30 AM each morning for the ride to school.

Most of the buses remain on the school property during the day. One bus driver, often times, that lives the greater distance will load the drivers up and drop them at home. In the after noon that driver picks the drivers up and delivers back to the school.

Under the Tim Pitchford policy, each bus driver will be required to have someone pick them up or leave their personal vehicle at the school during the night. Or the driver will be required to get up earlier to make it to the school get their bus, travel the greater distance which is often times near their home, and begin their route.

Currently, as I understand, the Assistant Principals in the Houston County system also serve as the transportation director for the school system.

Transportation is an issue that professionals trained in transportation should manage and lay out the routes and procedures. While the buses are transporting precious cargo, children, it is transportation such as freight. I say that in that specialist should manage the transportation system to make sure it is most efficient.

And yes, most buses are at the school. But when evacuation is required, there is one element that will be required to go along with the school bus. A trained and certified bus driver. Without them, the bus will just sit there.

The bus drivers do  not make much money. And the new Tim Pitchford system will cut into their pockets with additional time and money.

NOTE:

I had complaints where a lady off Trelawney Drive was driving the bus from Cottonwood each day and back. I investigated and observed what they were doing. I thought it was not a bad idea and worked for the benefit of all, including the citizens. Therefore I never did an article. And that particular bus driver does not like me for other reasons.. She even called my preacher on me for a article I wrote. So if it was wrong, you know I would have done an article on her!!!

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I'm pretty sure he meant he doesn't want any of the administrators to forward or just give a copy of the memo to a bus driver. He wanted to make sure he could say they read it right to there face so there is no plausible deniability. And plus, it's so horrible they have to do a little more work for their jobs! Those poor bus drivers! I surely don't want them to have to actually work a little more, that sounds terrible!