WISD prepares to begin consolidated busing system to serve Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Willow Run districts
Bus technician Kevin Darlington performs maintenance on a bus at the Ann Arbor bus yard on Friday.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Vanessa Clarke, a parent with children at Ann Arbor Open School, says she finds it reassuring many of the routes and bus drivers will remain unchanged when school starts this week.
Until the yellow buses get rolling, most parents say they’re taking a “wait and see” approach as the new consolidated bus system prepares for the upcoming school year. Starting Tuesday, bus drivers picking up students in the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Willow Run school districts will be part of a new Washtenaw Intermediate School District-run bus system.
“It’s definitely wait and see, what else can you do?” Clarke said. “Fortunately, I can drive my kids to school if it doesn’t work. I know that the cuts had to come from somewhere, so what can we do?”
The districts agreed to consolidate in the spring in a move to save millions of dollars. Ann Arbor expects to see $1 million in savings in the first year, while the other two districts also project a similar level of savings.
The savings will primarily come from reduced personnel costs, with the top of the wage scale now at $16.50 an hour, down from the $18.09 an hour wage earned by Ann Arbor’s highest paid bus drivers last year.
Brian Marcel, assistant superintendent for finance for the WISD, said the new system has been a massive undertaking. The countywide district had no transportation department before the consolidation began. He said they’ve managed to retain most of the personnel from the three districts to bring an air of familiarity to the system.
Clarke said her kids have established a relationship with the bus driver on their route, so she was glad when he told her he’ll be back on the same route this year.
Bus technician Gary Buchanan performs maintenance on a bus.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Marcel expects the beginning of the year to be like any other — there are always new drivers, changed routes and some confusion. Given the monumental change in the system, he said, the beginning of this school year should be relatively smooth.
“There will be problems in any school district during that first week,” Marcel said “The main thing we’re stressing with drivers is be patient because issues will happen. Be safe, be consistent, be good to the kids and don’t leave anybody on the bus.”
Most of the bus drivers who worked for the districts reapplied for jobs after being laid off at the end of last year and were hired back as WISD employees, Marcel said. He said about 1,400 people applied for 240-250 positions as bus drivers, monitors and staff. About 190 of those applicants were employees of the three districts, and most were hired, he said.
Drivers were doing dry runs of their routes over the weekend, and monitors will accompany all new drivers, Marcel said.
The individual districts have been working closely with the WISD to transition transportation services. The county’s other seven traditional school districts declined to join the countywide system for the fall, but administrators from several have said they’ll consider getting on board in the future.
Liz Margolis, district spokeswoman for Ann Arbor Public Schools, said parents should expect a seamless transition. She said parents who call with questions or issues will talk to the same people they’ve always talked to and will see many of the same drivers and routes.
“The changes should be very gradual,” Margolis said. “Parents should not see any differences, other than the name on the side of the bus will (eventually) change from ‘Ann Arbor Public Schools’ to ‘Washtenaw ISD.’”
Laura Lisiscki, interim superintendent of Willow Run Community Schools, said her district assured parents that, while there will be snags as is the case every year, transportation should be business as usual.
“We still have the same drivers in place, even though it’s in a different consortium,” she said. “They’re just wearing a different patch on their shirt.”
Those words from administrators appear to have eased parents’ worries over the change.
Andrea Johnson, a member of the Kaiser Elementary Parent Teacher Organization in Willow Run, said she knew parents had concerns when the consolidation was first announced. She said she’s reserving judgment for the time being.
“It’s not just about getting kids to school — that ride is important, you have to have a decent person driving them,” she said. “I want to give them a chance.”
Johnson said she was happy with the previous bus service in the district and hopes to see it continue.
“I understand the change was necessary, and change is a part of life,” she said. “I just hope that it’s still good for the kids and not too many people were put of their jobs.”
Mary Beth Sheehan, a member of the Bach Elementary Parent Teacher Organization in Ann Arbor, said she hadn’t yet heard concerns from parents. However, she said she wouldn’t know more until her daughter actually gets on the bus Tuesday.
“I try not to get too worried or worked up until I know there’s something to worry about,” Sheehan said.
Kim Easterly, another Bach Elementary PTO member, said parents she spoke to hadn’t seen anything surprising in the bus routes the district distributed last week. It’s leading to a hopeful outlook for parents, she said.
“Until the first day of school happens, parents are cautiously optimistic,” she said. “We can’t really know how it will work out until then.”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.
Comments
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Sep 9, 2010 : 10:10 a.m.
jns131 Commenting has been enabled on today's story, sorry for the delay and thanks for calling it to our attention!
MonkeyintheMiddle
Thu, Sep 9, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
Buses have always been delayed/late in the first week of school, but this is extreme. Why not admit the problem with some communication to the parents? A letter of explanation (from the school or bus dept.) would help parents be more understanding.
jns131
Thu, Sep 9, 2010 : 9:53 a.m.
I just read the latest on the problems with back to school and late buses. What I did notice? You cannot comment on the article. Guess the staff is tired of hearing us complain. I for one knew this was going to happen. I keep saying it over and over, good luck parents, going to be a long and bumpy ride.
jns131
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.
Mine was ten minutes late to school this morning and picking her up at school? I saw no buses when the bell rang. Ypsi? You are right, it is not working. Because 5 minutes after the bell rang? I saw buses pull in. 179 days to go.
ypsi
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 11:13 p.m.
Ok,so here's the update,my grandson attends AAPS.His bus was 30 minutes late to pick them up at school to return home.Is it working.NOT!
mr noggins
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.
"A stampede to charter schools is a definite possibility if this continues" also, school of choiceschools will allow students from other districts to attend but will not provide transpotation for out-of-district students. But, now, if A2 and ypsi dont really provide safe, qaulity tranportation, why not choose whatever school you want?
jns131
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 7:30 a.m.
Ypsi? You could not be further from the truth. If truth be told WISD was not prepared for this massive undertaking. They hired who they wanted hired and put those they did not want hired under the no hire list. Whether or not it is permanent I do not know. It could be. As for the teachers? They will get their 2% back in 5 years. As for the custodians and bus drivers? They will get nothing back except lost years as a no hire from WISD or worse yet, more cuts into the benefits and wages. Teachers are not willing to give up anything even though they say they are for the little guy. They aren't. Very sad year for all the children who lost their favorite bus driver. As for 1400 applications? I heard half of that. What is even funnier? Of those apps? Only half are even qualified to drive a bus. Of those that are hired? Half quit during the first few weeks of training. Bus drivers drop like flies once the year is out. But then again WISD is offering $250 if you do not use any sick time or time off during the year. Which is 8 days. That really scares me. Need money? Get sick? Guess which one they would choose. I feel for those who got hired. Good luck with the consolidation. Not sure if I want to be in that mess or not.
ypsi
Mon, Sep 6, 2010 : 11:40 p.m.
I was hired by this mess they call consolidation.What a joke,needless to say I did not take the job.No one seems to know how to actually run a transportation department.I feel sorry for the students that depend on this transportation.As I see it,this is bound to fail.
ypsilistener
Mon, Sep 6, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
Tomorrow, the first day of school, should be a real treat. Postcards notifying families of bus routes did not arrive in advance, and the WISD website's links to Ypsilanti routes are all dead ends. I wouldn't want to be answering those phones at the schools and at transportation!
stunhsif
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 11:47 p.m.
@aataxpayer and AlphaAlpha, "soon they will be dealing with a wave of much stronger public opinion than yet seen." The calm before the storm. Most taxpayers are sick and tired of the "gnashing of teeth" coming from those public employees making six figure incomes ( total benefit packages) with pensions and healthcare till they die, because they have to pay a "state mandated", 3% of their paychecks into supporting current retiree's plus their future "fully funded" retirements. And we are supposed to feel sorry for them? Heh, Brit, Ms. Starrfield and Mr. Norton, where did you guys go?
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
Yes, aataxpayer, indeed. Add Ms. Starrfield, Mr. Norton, etc., etc. Nothing personal, just business. Can't blame them for trying; soon they will be dealing with a much stronger wave of public opinion than yet seen. The 13 month bounce in market and social mood appears to have concluded; the next wave down in social and market mood will likely see renewed questions about the veracity of civil servants earning at the 94th percentile...
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 4:31 p.m.
"A2 teachers took A voluntary 2% pay cut in their contract" Reduced increase = a cut? Many believe otherwise. "Plus A2 teachers average $80k a year" No, per many stories on site, their total compensation averages $104K per year.
mr noggins
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.
of, course if parents really want to show their displeasure, the PTA should threaten to boycott the busses on "count day", I beleive it's the 5th wed, you could ask your driver. If the schools arent providing an acceptable level of service, they probably shouldn't get credit for it!
mr noggins
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 3:11 p.m.
So if nothing changes but the name on the side of the bus then we dont really have a new trans. system do we? All this does is allow the participating districts to get out of their contracts with their bargaining units. And for what? I witnessed a little girl almost in tears, saying that she didnt want her driver to be fired, when she learned that her driver was on the "no hire" list
mr noggins
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 2:48 p.m.
Actually, A2 teachers took A voluntary 2% pay cut in their contract because they wanted to help the others out, but they could have gotten just a freeze. The district administration felt it was best to keep the cuts "away from the classroom" because they felt that lower pay would draw less qaulified candidates. This is just as true in the bus lot as it is in the class. Plus A2 teachers average $80k a year, bus drivers about $25k. And there are a LOT more teachers than bus drivers, a 2% cut for them saves much more than 10% for the drivers and mechanics
In Question
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 1:17 p.m.
The thing about this that alot of people aren't understanding is that they cut the ones that were at the bottom and could LEAST afford to get cut. Sure it may sound like a good hourly wage, but very few of them get 40 hours a week, if any do. Surely not the drivers! Other transportation emplyoees may get a ga-zillion hours a week, but the drivers and monitors do not, and they lose three months a year when school is out. Most drivers don't have benefits to begin with because their runs are less than six hours a day. Shouldn't us parents be asking why they are doing this to the department where safety is the biggest issue, and then when enrollment is at all time lows doing things like spending a million to revamp the administration buildings and hiring an assistant superentendent at a six figure salary? Are they really saving or is this just cutting money that should be spent on the students to spend it where it best accomindates administratiors?
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 11:51 a.m.
"When will this end? " It's only beginning. As property values drop, as tax collections drop, as wages drop in the private sector, as assets in general deflate, so too will wages paid to public employees.
In Question
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.
I thought they took all their benefits, multiply that??? They are having to pay alot more on their medical aren't they? As far as sick time, ect., didn't they lose those benies too? I expect this will work........about the same time pigs fly. As far as 1,400 applicants...I question that. Why the two job fairs and the automated calls that was said that went out after all the people from the districts applied?
jns131
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
Only 75 drivers were hired from the original group laid off from Ann Arbor last June. They were only hired to appease the parents and keep them from worrying who was going to drive their children to school. But if they need a sub? That sub will probably come from either Ypsi or Willow Run if need be. This is how the consolidation will work. If you work for the consolidation you won't know if you as a sub will drive for one of those three bus systems. Plus the children will never know who is driving their bus if their main driver goes out on medical. I really don't see it being a smooth seamless system. I have talked to parents who aren't as calm about this as this article states they are. As for starting wages? Try $13 an hour, with part timers getting $15 and if you do special ed runs? $16. They start you out at minimum and increase your wages for the amount of time you have been a driver. This will cap you out. As for medical? If you can afford it? $2000 deductible for individuals and $4000 for a family. Parents in Chelsea are not as happy about this as well. They have to drive their children 2 or more miles to nearest hub so they can get a ride to school. I hate to say it this year will not go as smoothly as WISD is predicting. Good luck parents, I hope this article is right.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
"the wage scale now at $16.50 an hour" It's important to remember that total compensation is much higher than just hourly wages; typical deferred compensation benefits for government employees is about 50% greater than 'salary', meaning total compensation would be around $25 per hour, down just $2 from $27 per hour total compensation based on $18 per hour 'wage scale' last year.