Most people don’t like being ignored.
Douglas Garrabrant, president of the Rio Rancho Transportation Federation, is no exception.
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The board voted unan-imously on Monday to approve the $3.89 million package that requires Durham to furnish and maintain the buses, ensure the buses meet state safety requirements and provide the salaries and benefits of its employees.
Garrabrant told the board, before the vote, that Durham has refused to address safety and monetary concerns.
“We have previously addressed you in October of 2007 with concerns of safety in the transportation of your students. Unfortunately the concerns expressed still remain,” Garrabrant said. “Last year, the drivers and attendants failed to receive their state-mandated five percent wage increase in a timely fashion as Durham alleged the district failed to include this revenue in their contract with Durham.”
The board made no public comment and quickly voted to approve the contract with Durham.
Garrabrant and his fellow union members in attendance promptly walked out after the vote.
“I can’t believe they did not have any comment,” Garrabrant said. “I like being ignored.”
After the meeting, board president Lisa Cour said that the board was not ignoring the union’s comments but that the board has no right to interfere with Durham’s labor negotiations.
“We don’t tell them how to run their business,” Cour said. “We value the bus drivers and their concerns are valid. The drivers are an integral part of the school day. They are often the first face the children see in the school day and the last face.”
Garrabrant, however, holds out some hope that Durham officials will meet with the union and negotiate.
He said a strike is not off the table, but is a measure of last resort.
Union member Dorian Nork echoed Garrabrant’s comments and added that it was not a good idea for the board to approve the contract without knowing the union’s costs.
Regarding safety, Nork pointed out that mechanics routinely drive buses. He said that at least one mechanic should be available at all times to repair buses.
He also said that for the past two years Durham has promised to have cameras on the buses. He said the buses still have no cameras.
Superintendent Dr. Sue Cleveland agreed with Cour that the school district cannot interfere with a private company.
She said the district has looked at other companies but it is too late to change services.
Garrabrant had expressed an interest in the bus drivers becoming employed by the school district, rather than Durham.
“We understand we do not work directly for you; although, given a choice we would prefer that business relationship,” Garrabrant said.
Cleveland said she is flattered to hear that but that it would be too difficult and expensive for the district to run its own transportation department.
She explained it is the trend for districts to outsource the work.
The only large school district in the state that runs an in-house transportation department is Farmington.
Regarding bus routes, the board will approve them at a later date.
As the school district has grown, busing students to school in a timely manner has become more difficult.
The district has three tiers, which are start times and end times, throughout the day.
The high school and Mid-High are on the first tier, followed 45 minutes later by the middle schools and 35 minutes after that by the elementary schools.
Drivers are responsible for one route on each tier. But for drivers who have to cover great distances, there isn’t enough time between tiers to pick up and deliver students on time.
Cleveland said she anticipates moving the bell times back five to 10 minutes.
This will cut down on distractions made when students arrive late to class or when buses are late to pick up students from school.
She also expressed a desire to move to a two-tier system, but said there are not enough drivers to make the switch.
Rio Rancho students return to school in August.
The bus contract runs through June 30, 2009.
The board pays Durham with nine equal installments of $389,279 and a final installment of $389,280 on Sept. 25
Durham is responsible for purchasing fuel, but the school board will provide automobile liability coverage to Durham.
Durham operates its buses on board-approved routes.
On the 40th day of the school year, Durham will furnish the board with a complete route map and roster of eligible students who are transported.
Durham School Services has a presence in more than 300 school districts in 27 states. The company is based in Downers Grove, Ill.
Comments
2 comment(s)Douglas Garrabrant wrote on Jul 19, 2008 8:41 AM:
In closing what are the ramifications of the RRPS Board passing a 3.9 million contract with Durham that has not been signed by Durham. "
Mike Smith wrote on Jul 18, 2008 1:22 PM: