FROM JOHN W,WALKER P.A, TO 3710100 P. 02 JOHN w. Walker, p.a. AttokxNey At Law 1723 Broadway Little Rock. Arkansa.s 72206 TET.ephone (501) 374-3758 FAX (501) 374-1187 I I JOHN \v. walker RAIJH WASHINGTON MARK BURNETTE WILEY A. BRANTON. JR. AUSTIN PORTER, JR ' Also admitted to PracUw iu 4 '-Ik Diskrict yf Colunbia. May 27/ 1993 Dr. Mac Bernd Superintendent of Schools Little Rock School District 810 West Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 li Re Bus Route #07D Dear Dr. Bernd: It has come to my attention that there may be problems with Bus Route #07D which covers the Meadowcliff and Highland Court areas. Please advise whether or not you have or someone at your direction has authorized the use of two buses for this route, one for Black students and one for white students. If this is the case, I am concerned that the District is promoting segregation rather than its commitment of desegregating all aspects of the areas. school system. My understanding of our desegregation plan is that every effort will be made to improve race Continued separation of races by allowing separate buses for Black and white students does not fulfill that commitment. Please let me hear from you. incerel^ JCS lm John W. walker, Esquire Chris Heller, Esquire Ms. Ann Brown relations. C. Springi r ! i t I cc r RECEIVF.O SEP 2 1994 Dione D. Doty 1510 Hillsborough Little Rock, AR 72212 Office of Desegregation tv'iofii ioi iiig September 1, 1994 Dr. Russ Mayo Associate Superintendent Little Rock &hool District Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Dr. Mayo: Since your office took absolutely no action to reroute our newly reassigned bus route to exclude violent, crime intensive areas, we have nothing to reconsider. We will NOT compromise on safety issues and denial by your office and others of the existence of safety problems will only speed the exodus from the District. After seventeen years of supporting the Little Rock School District, we have withdrawn that support and enrolled our child in private school. The last 5 stops on this "safe" route are through one of the most violent areas in the city. Attachment 1 is summarized from a August 7 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article regarding the 41 Little Rock murders through that date. It only addressed murders, so it is far from being all-inclusive of area crimes. 37% of those murders were in some way related to this area either being the address of the victim, assailant or of the murder (22% of the 37%). Included were 3 drive-by murders (generally being unsolved), numerous shootings, chases, etc., etc. These locations were within blocks of both the bus stops and bus route which you consider "adequate and safe" and are certainly an indication of the high probability of being at the wrong place at the wrong time when traveling that route. Also note that the 14 year old assailant in murder # 12 has added a carjacking at gunpoint (3 felonies) and another drive-by shooting to his arrest record between August 14 and August 25. This assailant lives within blocks of one of these "safe" bus stops and has not restricted his activities to his home in the past! We understand that the Little Rock School District is large, that it has many students and that transportation is a major logistics problem Reduced bus-time and optimizing student-to-bus numbers were both cited by the transportation department as objectives for splitting the "Green" route, which has been our assigned route since 1990. We understand such objectives, but did not notice significant changes in either of these factors. We realize that the needs of the 6 children in this crime intensive area must also be met. We regret that they, or any children, are subject to the daily risk of living in such areas. However, we cannot and will not support ANY decision or ANY objective that would put ANOTHER 14 children at risk by transporting them twice a day through an urban war-zone! We do have choices!!Page 2 of 2 Doty to Mayo September 1, 1994 We certainly do not dispute that Booker Arts Magnet is an excellent school. We have been more than pleased with Dr. Simmons, Dr. Lacey, other Booker administrators, and Booker teachers and specialist. When we visited Booker to let Dr. Simmons know of our decision and to allow our daughter to say goodby to fnends, there were many expressions of regret that she was leaving and best wishes for her at her new school. This decision was not without regrets and tears on our part. However, the magnitude of this safety issue far out weighs the positives that Booker's administration and staff offer. We want to stress that we would NOf have placed our child in a private school had your office, Dr. Cheatham in the transportation department, and/or Dr. William's office indicated any intent to resolve this safety issue. After numerous statements such as "We feel that the established routes provide adequate and safe service", there was no doubt that we were being told to "take it or leave it"....so we left! We can be contacted at the above address or at (501) 225-6864 if you have questions, comments or would want to further discuss the basis of our decision. Sincerely, (copy) Dione D. Doty Attachment cc (w/attachments): Dr. Henry Williams Dr. Mary Jane Cheatham Dr. Cheryl Simmons Ms. Ann Brown, Federal Monitor Little Rock School Board[E^ESibfl - nnm-rar ^tt^atlKat^ J.mHnuoiitKl^fjjeitigaaK)gtt^ Little Rock School District August 23, 1994 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Doty 1510 Hillsborough Lane Little Rock, AR 72212 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Doty Dr. Henry Williams, Superintendent, routing from your address. School. asked me to review the bus 1510 Hillsborough Lane, to Booker Magnet I personally reviewed the routing with information supplied by the Transportation Department. AAss ooff tthhiiss ddaattee,, wwee ddoo nnoott hhaavvpe aa bus that would follow your requested route to Booker Magnet School. The student population of the district students. We strive to provide both , educational environment for our students. is currently over 21,000 an efficient and safe --- I am unable to honor your request , for alternate -b-us -r-o-u-t-i-n3g at this ti-ijLmieHc.. We feel that the established routes provide adequate and safe service. J reconsider your choice of private school. Booker Magnet is an excellent school. I feel that if given the ---- --- AAV* 1 v_ j I I I 1^, I I opportunity, Erin will be provided a quality education in a safe environment. Sincerely, Dr. Russ Mayo Associate Superintendent RM: dk 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)324-2000 "Attachment 1 Page 1 of 2 Details from the August 7, 1994 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article of the 41 Little Rock mundeis (at that date) in 1994. DATE LOCATION DETAILS # BLOCKS TO BUS ROUTE LOCATION # BLOCKS TO BUS STOP LOCATION 1-9-94 2 of 41 2-7-94 4 of 41 2-12-94 5 of 41 2-15-94 6 of 41 3-17-94 12 of 41 **AND MORE! AND3- 25-94 14 of 41 4-17-94 17 of 41 2026 W. 18th Murder location In route from basketball game (Central area) to 2213 Valmar Murder location 3310 W. 16th Assailants address 2421 W. 16th Address of victim of police shooting prosecutors ruled justified 1722 Johnson St. Assailants address Stabbed, CRACK COCAINE in exchange for sex DRIVE BY SHOOTING, FIRED TWO BULLETS, RETRIBUTION FOR AN EARLIER SHOOTING Victim killed by GUNSHOTS in his living room (outside of area) Victim killed after police STAKEOUT, CHASE AND CONFRONTATION. SHOOTING outside of area but stakeout and chase locations not documented Shot victim with .22 CALIBER PISTOL, stolen property sale 4 Blocks 14th & Jones 6 Blocks 14th & Woodrow In route = "in area of 14th & Woodrow In route & "in area of NA NA NA **This is the 14/15 year old in Arkansas Democrat-Gazette August 26-30 articles. He was arrested & charged with the 3/17 murder, arrested again in August for carjacking at gunpoint ( 3 felony charges), then arrested again for a drive- by shooting in this area August 26. 3 gun & autO related incidents ..MURDER and CARJACKING and DRIVE-BY SHOOTING 2509 W. 13th Murder location GUNMAN OPENED FIRE as victim emerged from house police say murder was GANG RELATED 1 Block 14th & Thayer 5 Blocks 14th & Woodrow 5 Blocks 15th & Schiller AND 5 Blocks 14th & Woodrow 5 Blocks 14th & Woodrow 4 Blocks 14th & Woodrow AND 6 Blocks 15th & Schiller A 4220 W. 12th Assailants address B. 4310 Maryland Murder location Demanded money from victim SHOT SEVERAL TIMES with large-caliber pistol A 4 Blocks 10th & Pine/Cedar B. 3 Blocks Maryland & Pine/Cedar A 8 Blocks 10th & Valmar B. 8 Blocks 10th & ValmarDATE 4-26-94 ' Attachment 1 Page 2 of 2 LOCATION DETAILS # BLOCKS TO BUS ROUTE LOCATION # BLOCKS TO BUS STOP LOCATION 20 of 41 16th & Izard Victim's car found at this location Victim strangled in her home outside of area no assailant address victim's car in apartment parking lot NA Exact Location 16th & Izard 5-8-94 23 of 41 A.3510 W 14th Victim's address B. 1608 Park Murder location Victim shot with a HANDGUN, ran a short distance and collapsed at 1608 Park NA A. 5 Blocks 14th & Woodruff B. 2 Blocks 15th & Shiller 5-11-94 24 of 41 3515 1/2 W. nth Assailants address (No murder location noted) Assaikint minutes earlier complained to police officer that victim had stolen his tennis shoes assailant STABBED victim after a FOOT CHASE. 1 Block 11th & Valmar 1 Block 10th & Valmar 5-27-94 27 of 41 A. 1520 Oak Victim's address B. 3600 Block of W. 16th Murder location Several men in a car fired a DOZEN OR MORE SHOTS from SEVERAL WEAPONS...UNSOLVED MURDER A & B 6 Blocks 12th & Valmar A & B 7 Blocks 10th & Valmar 9 Blocks 14th & Woodruff 5-30-94 28 of 41 A 1914 Ringo Victim's address B. 1422 Chester Murder location DRIVE-BY SHOOTING, three occupants, two gunshot wounds in chest UNSOLVED MURDER A. 5 Blocks 16th & Chester B. 2 Blocks 16th & Chester A 6 Blocks 16th & Izard B. 3 Blocks 16th & Izard AND 6 Blocks Dr. Martin Luther King & 15th 6-18-94 33 of 41 6-11-94 35 of 41 7-10-94 37 of 41 1603 Chester Assailants address A. 1911 Cross Murder location B. 1011 W 20th Assailants' address 1000 block of S Elm Murder location Assaikint called police and said had killed a man with a rock after being threatened with a knife (murder outside of area) Victim's neck was broken when choked & robbed at his home DRIVL-BY SHOOTING AS MANY AS EIGHT ROUNDS SHOOTER GANG-STYLE CLOTHING UNSOLVED MURDER Exact Location 16th & Chester 1 Block 16th & Izard NA 2 Blocks PineZCedar & 10th A & B. 6 Blocks 15th Izard AND 7 Blocks Dr. Martin Luther King & 15 th 6 Blocks 10th & ValmarOffice of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham. Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock. Arkansas 72201 (501)376.6200 Fax (501) 371.0100 September 13, 1994 Mrs. Mary Jane Cheatham Transportation Department Little Rock School District 5400 Murray Street Little Rock, AR 72209 Dear Mary Jane: At 7:57 a.m. this morning, I had too close an encounter with a LRSD bus. As 1 was driving east on 17th street just past Rockefeller School, bus 40C lOE pulled out of McAlmont Street right in front of me, causing me to slam on my brakes to prevent a collision. The bus was traveling much too fast, and only slowed at the intersection of McAlmont and 17th. At first, I thought the driver had run a stop sign at the intersection, but then I realized that there is no stop sign at the comer of McAlmont and 17th to run, because McAlmont is a one-way street going south-and the bus was headed north! The bus contained no passengers that I could see, but my car certainly did, because I was making my morning rounds to drop my kids off at school. Besides the obviously serious dangers of going the wrong way on a one-way street (and in a big hurry to boot), I believe that that particular traffic violation results in an automatic 3-point ticket, which carries a high fine. I know you'll agree that the LRSD cannot afford the potential expenses in either safety costs, fines, or negative public relations. I trust that you'll instruct the driver of bus 40C lOE to go and sin no more. This incident causes me to wonder anew about the quality and extent of the safety instruction which LRSD bus drivers receive. I'm aware from personnel at the Arkansas Department of Education that the LRSD has sent no representative to the State's summer driver training institute in Hot Springs, even though participation would cost the district nothing because the State pays all costs. As a matter of fact, I understand the district would stand to gain some $31,000 as a result of LRSD's full participation in the State's training programs. That amount of money would enable the district to hire its own full-time safety trainer and supervisor, or it could be put to some other use that would help reassure parents that the LRSD is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of commuting children.Page Two September 13, 1994 Incidents involving bus transportation cause the district much negative and damaging publicity. I believe it would be wise for us to take advantage of every available opportunity to turn those negatives into positives. I know of no substitute for regular, quality, comprehensive, and preventive driver training Because transportation is such an integral part of the desegregation plan, please provide the information requested on the attachment by the end of the month. Thank you very much for your assistance. Sincerely yours. Ann S. Brown cc Russ MayoSeptember 13, 1994 Provide the following written information to the Office of Desegregation Monitoring no later than September 30, 1994: 1. Describe the LRSD's bus driver training program objectives, content, and schedule which the district routinely follows, or at least followed in preparation for this school year. 2. Attach a copy of the curriculum and handouts which accompany the training. 3. List the names of the trainers and their training background or other relative training qualifications. 4. Indicate the number of drivers who received training and the date that they completed the training program. 5. List the number of drivers who have not received training and the date by which these drivers will have been trained explain why any drivers have not completed training. 6. Describe the kind of follow-up training you provide for those who miss initial pre-service training sessions? 7. Explain the district's rationale for not participating in ADE's summer training program and subsequent training activities. 8. Describe any plans for future participation in ADE's training programs. 9. Name who is presently responsible for overseeing safety training and supervision include the job description(s) for the individual(s). 10. Describe the consequences (sanctions and remedial instruction) given drivers who commit safety violations.RECEIVED DEC 2 7 1991 December 21, 1994 Giiica of Dessgregaticn ...onao.tng Judy Magness Little Rock School Board, Zone 3 708 Hall Dr. Little Rock, AR 72205 Dear Ms. Magness: I am writing to let you know about some frustrations with school bus transportation this year not necessarily because it is happening to me and my student but because it may be happening systemwide and may need the attention of our School Board and administration. For six years I have been completely satisfied with the school bus transportation. Other than a few times when the bus was late or failed to arrive, it picked my son up every morning on a corner near our house. The convenience and reliability of the bus was one of the things for which I praised the Little Rock Public Schools - in addition to Carver Magnet School, the best school in the world. THIS year has been completely different. The 2IC bus has been frequently late and has failed to arrive several times each month. Then on November 28, I sent a note to school explaining that we would be moving November 3 0 and requested a new bus stop for my son. The school called and said it might take a week but that the request would be forwarded to the Transportation Department that day. Now it's December 21, more than three weeks later, and we still don't have a bus stop. I have talked several times each week to the school and the Transportation Department and have not received any answer for what might be taking so long - other than administrative approvals. My husband has talked personally with the Transportation Director. A bus stop already is established about a mile from our new house, according to the schedule for Bus 211. One morning we arrived there early and waited for 30 minutes. No other students were at that bus stop, and no bus ever arrived. I have been taking my child to school most days - about a 40-minute round-trip. A few days I have let him stay home. Some mornings he has gone late when my husband went to work downtown.If other parents and students are experiencing similar frustrations, those who can afford other choices would probably choose a private school. I hope that our public school recruiters who try to persuade new residents to choose public schools over private schools do not have to also tell them that it will take a month or more to get their student on a bus. I realize that it is ultimately my responsibility to make sure my especially child gets to school every day. However, when the public school system promotes public school enrollment, it also touts convenient bus transportation - in rhe case of magnet/incentive schools in hard-to-desegregate locations far from the homes of most white families. in public school Although I haven't been directly involved administration for several years, it was always my understanding that the State of Arkansas pays for magnet school transportation and that it's rather expensive. Surely with all the state tax money being spent on magnet school transportation, a more reliable system could be provided for those of us who choose to attend public schools. Respectfully, Scharmel Wilson work: 664-3600 cc: Superintendent of Schools Transportation Director Student Assignment Office Ann Brown, Desegregation Monitor Donna Creer, Magnet Review :ommittee Linda Pondexter, School Board President John Riggs, School Board Carver Magnet School?^p,/ SD SEP 2 0 1995 Office of Desegrsgaiiffli Monncnng fyi/ l/^e--i_ 3 o i< p A. fi c> /*T<i t! '/Vv j4^'/'^Qi'i<f^ 'i 'i- Dr. ( <y Oy zO ' w -^^SV xz LiH< R,oci(. Schoo/ Gi^i-i'ci- Ui'l'lx 1^0 c t -) -jL. -ZL.O^ '^4- Uk^ Cixi r ___________ ________5, _ - ____Cc^J 1 ____ 1^Qx:iy<^-k, L_^ c>\_ Zlo H.Zb LijdiLjz_ , ^<H-e ( fi, tU-OO rec. Sl-r bo-tK, Cii/f . (v. p lt> <y o-p ^cL __Cc, l( ._. ol^o,^ 4- _ ha & ~l^ h<^'^ C&r-'i'Q.cf'efi /I. noui-s^ Cy old .c, -.D. M l_4 _ G $ Si ila __ r^i\^ _ /3f o IX/ iV"__ t. 5 c>Aft v k ... -- .'__^: _r___ a rr):iCi, O OAzq., jlf.__Ql( i^ /'Ixj, ei,loi>L>~t } Aj J> b . 1 Ct< iti.II, J.S +hl 4'k< ._Lq:a I'lQ,'* /- 4'0 roult cih-d QysZ-e^ 4o 4-0 33 e s 3C h Po 4'ha4 X 4a<^e I \je Xz'y 3 Cbu^k^'l-c i~. 6 C Cciu i, t-lVCu^ Kio-Vk t <7 c?p- bos C-A^hz^c. y'iu 'kc s 4% v w ?i iw f' S?r i " ' f. ) i 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)82^2000 It LriTTE R()('k School Distkkt OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT April 29, 1996 " * / : Mr. Spence Holder, Coordinator School Transportation Arkansas Department of Education 4 State Capitol Mall. Room 204-A ! it Little Rock. AR '996 122Q\ K Dear Mr. Holder I am appointing Mary Jane Cheatham. Director of Transportation, as the Little Rock School District's representative to serve on the Interdistrict Transportation Authority (ITA). If I can be of assistance to the committee, please contact me. Sincerely, / Henry P. WJrilliams Superintendent of Schools HPW/ca c: Mary Jane Cheatham Bobby Acklin. NLRSD Ed Hogan, PCSSD Melissa Guldin. ODM Janinne Riggs. Governors Office Cynthia Howell. Arkansas Democrat Gazette HIO West Miu kliain Street Little K<x:k, Arkiui.siw 7221)1 (.501) t2t-2IX)t) 8.15 96 14:33 S301 324 2023 LRSD COMMVMCATI ODM @002. 002 LnTLE kocK Scu(joL District For linraediate Release August 15, 1996 For more information: SucUen Vann, 324-2020 The Little Rock School District (LRSD) .and Laidlaw Transit, Inc. are planning bus routes for the 14,000 students who will be traasported to Linle Rock schools beginning Monday. August 19. l^aidlaw i,s mailing letters today to parents to inform hem of assigned bus routes and bus stops. Some parent': will receive a phone call instead of a letter due to some last minute assignments Laidlaw has established a telephone b:inii to provide assistance to parents who have questions related to school bus routes. Ihe ntimbei- for telephone assistance is -6085. It will be staffed Satuiday and Sundav. .August 17 and 18, from 1 p.m. until 5 . " Beginning Monday. August 19, the phone lines will be staffed from 6:30 a-.m. until 5:30 p.m. If the phone lines are busy, callers may leave a message, and a staff'member will return the call. / 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 <501)834-2000 lPSD AWIIN. BiiLDINS ?4-2032 Sep 20 96 11:49 P. 02/02 fj t I =j I ra' 1-501 Ml I-ii fLF K(){k School District i" For fm mt'diiitr Rfltase Homemade Mixiure Spifh on school Rus ^epfembtT 20, 1 s>06 for nioie infomiatton. Suellen Vann. 3'24-202(.i sI I I A mnth grade .special education stttaent from Mabelvale Junior High School took a plastic bottle tilled with a homemade bretv onto her school bus this mommg. The bottle conuiinej several household rocks a id other items. materials, including vinegar, aspirin witch hazel, aqaariiun The motion of the bus apparent caused the mixture to expand, and rhe top of ihe bottle .amc otf a vapor dowd formed, and foe Lmie Roek Polne and fore Depanrnents were called the scene. No students were injured, although a bus aide later wen, to foe hospital for treatment of her to Mabelvale Junior High. asthma. .All parents were contacted, and students Im, 1 ulfcrton pr,napal pf Mrt,|vrt, Ju,r H.^h. enticed ,h assigmiients were given which would cau.se the studeni to attempt the home were taken eKperimentation. Transportation officials sard tlie school bus v^ ill be returned to been thoroughly cleaned 810 West Markham Stre ti-rfU: I tie Rofk, Arka. ,n>i TasOl Service after it has (501 laaAtJOoo 12/04/1996 14:13 FROM JOHN 1.1. W fi L K E R P . fl . TO 710100 F' . 0 2 JOHN W. WALKR, P.A. / 723 Broadway Little Rock, Arkansas 72206 Telephone (501)374-3758 Fax (501) 374-4187 JOHN W. WALKER RALPH WASHINGTON MARK BURNETTE AUSTIN PORTER JR. KJ^LBERLYR. DICKSON December 4, 1996 Mr. Fred Smith Executive Manager of Laidlaw Laidlaw Transportation 5400 Murray Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72209 Dear Mr. Smith This is to put you on notice that we are making a claim for damages regarding Laidlaw's failure to deliver Byran Hodges to Washington Magnet School on time for most of this year and thus, for causing him to miss valuable class time. We are also making a claim for Laidlaw's failure to even pick him up and for Laidlaw's frequent return of him to his drop-off point as late as 7:30 p.m. Byran is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Byran Hodges, No. 33 Perdue Circle, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. He is eleven years old. The damage claim is for $100 per day for each day that he was late $200 per day for the days that he was not picked up at all and, $250 for each day that he was not returned home by at least 5:00 p.m. This acknowledges for settlement purposes an hour leeway in the afternoon for his return home Would either you or your authorized representative please contact me at your earliest convenience. rely. C Id (hn W. Walker JWW lp cc Dr. Don Roberts Ms. Ann BrownI" PT 12-^04<1996 ri:74 FROM JOHM W.WfiL.KER P.fi. t TO 0710130 r ' / P. 02 r \ i fOHN W. WALKER, Pji. I' -t-r- 1723 Broadwaji Littli Ruck, Arkansas 72206 Telephone (501) 374-3758 Fax (501) 374-4187 k LV. /OHN -W. W.4LKSR RAlS-n WASHJNGTOS MARKBUJiNEm AUSTIN PORTSB/B-KIMBTRiyU DICKSON December 4,1996 I? /'./ 'I-Ms Ann Brown ' Office of Desegregation Monitoring Heritage West Bldg, 201 E. Markham, Suite 510 Little Rock, Arkansas Dear Ms Brown We continue to receive many complaints re Laidlaw's transportation practices The primary complaint is that the buses are late in pick-up and delivery and that the children are subjected to loss of school time and are left in. unsafe circumstances both before and after school by the circumstances 1 ask that your office inquire into tins matter. I also ask that you inquire into the accuracy of the record keeping of the schools with respect to transportation, ft is my observation that the schools document earlier arrival times of buses than actual and earlier leave time from schools in the j, afternoons than actual. I believe the situation is so serious that it warrants a review by the Court of the entire matter 'fhank you for your attCDtion to this matter / / . Sincerely, - rhe v. Walker . t / V s i..l. M < ri ,-i r} '-.H 41 X' 5 ^ /.'a iHiM I TOTAL r . <5 3received UcC 1 1 1996 Office of Dasegregaiion Momonii^ &4X CITY OF LITTLE ROCK PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TELECOPIER TRANSMITTAL COVER SHEET FAX NUMBER: (501) 371-6832 DATE TO: FAX#: TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES (Including Cover Sheet) '1 IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE ALL THE PAGES OR IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE, CONTACT AT (501) 371-///^- ^MESSAGE, 10d 2889 US IOS 'ON XVJ 0?d STdW m HUI O 96-lI-O'^E>2' - December 11. 1996 Dear, Mrs. Ann Brown December 16, 1996 there will be an emergency call meeting for concern parents. This organize meeting has been scheduled out of concern for the .safety' and education of oui Laidlaw 'Il'ansportation has breach there contract. On several mornings our children arc being left standing on bus stops for hours at a time, arriving at .school late or missing school. They are returning home late at night. This sendee has been happening children. since the beginning of .school, and we are asking oiir school hoard official and superintendent to attend. Please RSVP by Friday December 13, 1996 at 371-4442. The meeting will take place Mondav December 16, 1996 at 7:00 - S:00 P.M. at the South Little. Rock Recreation Center 2701 Main Street. cc John Walker,P.A. 0'd 25SlilOS 'ON XVd 03a 3 SHdt 33 IDH 0313 96-U-03C 12 17 1996 17 1 7 FROM JOHN U.WA L K E R P.A. TO 3710100 P.O M-' John W. Walker, P.A. Attcr.nty .Xt Law 1723 Broadway Little Rock. .-Xkkansas 72206 Telephone (501) 374-3758 FAX (501) 374-4187 JOHN W. W.aLKER RALPH W.ASHINGTON NL4RKBURNOTE AUSTIN PORTER. JR- . KIMBERLY R. DIUKSO.N via Facsinilo - 371-0100 December 17, 1996 Ha. Ann Brown, Federal Monitor Qffice of Desegregation Monitoring 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Ms Little Rock, AR 72201 Re: Laidlaw Transportation Dear Ms. Brown: find ay report of the parent nesting on last Enclosed please tina ay xeyvii. wj. ---- 7" the transportation of Little Rock students by evening regarding t.----s-- Laidlaw. Hr. Walker asked that I share these with you. Hr. Also by copy of this letter to Dr. him with a copy of the same. Roberts, I aa providing Sincerelv Joy C. Springer JCS/ cc: Dr. Don Roberts, I Z17/I 996 17: IS FROM JOHN IJ, IJ S L K e R P . fl . TO 3'10100 P.O: ot Meeting of Concerned Parents the Little Rock School District Laidlaw's Transportation Regarding of LR8P atudeota The facilitator reported that of this meeting, Ms. Phyllis Hodges, she invited the Superintendent of Little Rock ~ Don Roberts, all members of the Board of school District, Dr. Don Roberts, ail mem^rs or yne nv. Education of the Little Rock School District, Office of Desegregation Monitoring Monitor Ann Brown, a representative from^^idlaw^Transportation, Ed Streeter and m^ers of the Press to this meeting.- There was no one administration present at the meeting. from the LRSD central office Only Dr. Michael Daughtery of thX Little Rock School District Board of Directors member from the Arkansas Democrat"*Gazette and was present- State Press were also present. he Arkansas A Anecdotal Statements 1) elementary Parents from Washington, Fulbright, and Rockefeller y schools and Horace Mann and Dunbar junior high schools that their children have waited at the bus stop for reoorted that their children nave waiuea ar we cut. Laidlaw buses as late as 10:00 a.m. and that their children have a-r-rivod as late as 7:00 p.m. from school. These delays have arrived school, occurred on more than one occasion. 2) 2) Several of these parents reported that when they have contacted school district officials regarding their concerns, referred to Laidlaw officials who have either refused their telephone calls or did not give a satisfactory they were to return explanation for the delays. 3) for buses on Several of these parents reported that they have waited several occasions and buses have not shown up to pick up their children. 4) 4) It was reported by at least one parent that inexperienced and substitute drivers accounted for many of the delays. 5) 5) It was reported by at least one parent that they believed that the District was not concerned about these students loosing valuable educational time. 6) 6) Several parents reported that they are being inconvenienced by having to take their children to school because of Laidlaw's failure to pick up their children. 7) Several parents complained that they believed, at one of12- 17 1??6 17: 1 ? FROM JOHN 1.1. M A L k E F P . fl . TO 3710100 the reasons, for Laidlaw's delay in transporting students timely to school was Laidlaw's failure to communicate to the District officials changes in routes and pickups. IN SUMMARY were approximately 30 parents present at the meeting oj^ last evening, one point that I gleamed from the meeting was that Laidlaw was contracted by the Little Rock School District to transport LRSD's students to their respective schools as a cost saving measure, however, the costs being incurred by the District are much greater than actually reported when you make an assessment of the valuable educational time that students are loosina when they are late to school and being returned home late from school. Finally, I believe it is appropriate to make inquiry regarding the District's monitoring and current evaluation and assessment of Laidlaw's delivery of the services. I intend to make this inquiry by separate memorandum. Prepared by Joy C. Springer Joshua Intervenors e*. i 1998 1 501-324-2eZ LRSD l'OMM'JNICATZONS PAGE 0'2/02 Little Kock School District For Immediate Release February 17. 1998 For more information: Edward E. Streeter or Lori Howell, 570-4000 Lzaidlaw Drivers Recognized for '"K.oad-eo W ins School bus drivers from Izaidlax.' Transit, Inc. competed in the first annual .Mid- S'^trth School Bus Road-eo in Mempais last weekend, and on Wednesday drivers will be recognised for their outstan.di.ng nerforniiinee. The purpose of the Road-eo was to provide each driver the opportunity to dentocstrate ,^lis/'her driAinu skills by safely maneuvering a school bus through a challenging course. The competition included the following events Student Leading Student L'nloading Alley Dock Rjuht Ttim R.ailroad Crossina Stop Line Test rite Serpentine Straight I,me Backin.g Diminished Clearance l.aidfaw drivers who demonstrated supenor driting skills were Howard Jones, first place Sherri Bank,s. second place and Dwayne Holmes, third place. Drivers were awarded tropines and cash prizes, and they brought the Grose Cup back to Little P<ock where it will remain until next year's competition. The driver recogmtion will be held on Wednesday, May 20, at 9:30 a m. at the Laidlaw facility 5400 Murray Sueet. 810 Wert 'latHUdti Street Little Kock. .Arkansas 72201 ..501>324-2000 f 5rr .c i 0: --A <36. 14:38 . 5017324-2023' LRSD communications ' PAGE 0'2/.02 Little Rock School District ll^ ) P J I July 6, 1998 For Immediate Release For more information: Sucllen Vann, 324-2020 I Bus Information Meetings Public Service Announcement Little Rock School District parents can get the latest school bus news by attending one of three meetings scheduled this summer. Laidlaw Transit and the Little. Rock !r 1 School District will host transportation meetings on July July 26*. and August 9*. All meetings will be held trom 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. in the Little Rock School District Administration Building, 810 West Markham. Staff members will be on hand to inform parents and students about school bus transportation and answer any questions parents might, have. Buster the Friendly Bus' will attend the meetings to educate and entertain the children. For more information, please contact Laidlaw Transit at 570-4000 or the Little 1 Rock School District at .324-2000. I f 810 West Street Littie Rock. Arkansas 72201 (501)024'2000 id 1 i 01/14/1999 15:56 501-324-2023 LRSD COMMUNICATIONS PAGE 01/01 I. 810 West Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: Fax: (501)324-2020 (501)324-2032 DATE January 14,1999 TO Central Arkansas Media Cynthia Howell, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette FROM: Suellen Vann, Director of Communications SUBJECT: Special School Board Meeting MESSAGE: The Little Rock School District (LRSD) Board of Directors will hold a special meeting this afternoon in conjunction with its regular agenda meeting. The special meeting will he held to consider proposed Board policies and negotiations with Laidlaw Transit, Inc. for transportation for the 1999-2000 school year The meetings will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the LRSD Administration Building 810 West Markham. # Pages (including cover) 1 lb Fax# Preparing students for success every dayArkansas Democrat gazette SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1993 1 School bus hits car, injuring 8 LR pupils Bus driver cited for improper turn r ) IIlift* 1 BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK AND DANNY SHAMEER Democrat-Gazette Staff Writers Eight students were treated for minor injuries Friday after the Little Rock School District bus they were riding in struck a car. The accident comes a week after a Pulaski County first-grader was struck and killed by a bus. And late Thursday, a 15-year-old North Little Rock boy was struck in the head by a brick as he rode a bus from a football game at Central High School. He was treated at a North Little Rock hospital and released. In the accident Friday, Little Rock School District bus driver Tony Darryl Burse was cited for an improper left turn, police said. The bus, en route to Pulaski Heights Elementary School, carried 27 students. Little Rock School District buses experienced 14 accidents in September, said Brad Montgomery, the districts transportation director. Police cited bus drivers in six of those accidents, he said. In September 1992, there were 16 accidents involving buses, three of which involved ticketing the driver. The district hasnt compiled accident reports to date for this school year. The North Little Rock School District has had six collisions involving school buses from July 1 through Oct. 1. Police ticketed bus drivers in three of the incidents. And in the same period, four Pulaski County Special School District buses had accidents, including two in which the drivers were given tickets. In Fridays accident, police said the bus collided with a car as the bus driver tried to turn left onto B Street from Cedar. The driver veered into the right See ACCIDENT, Page ISA fv ii 1 it .* iO. CHILDREN INJURED Two students wait for MEMS paramedics to remove them from their Little Rock School District bus after the bus collided with a car at North Cedar Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Steve Kees^ and B streets Friday morning. Eight children were slightly injured. The bus was en route to Pulaski Heights Elementary School. Accident Continued from Page 1A lane then turned left across the left lane. The car struck the left side of the bus, police said. Burse, 31, told police he swung wide to more easily enter the narrow street and failed to see a 1988 Chevrolet Corsica in his rearview mirror. Burse also said he signaled a left turn. District officials didnt know Friday whether Burse has been cited before. He was hired Aug. 16. Montgomery said that in accidents such as this one, in which there does not appear to be significant property damage or serious negligence, no suspension is warranted. District drivers are allowed three chargeable incidents before they are recommended for termination. The eight injured students were treated for cuts and scrapes at Arkansas Childrens Hospital, then released, a hospital spokesman said. ' The driver of the Chevrolet, Gwendolyn Watson, 23, of 2000 . Rebsamen Road was treated at University Hospital in Little Rock and released, a hospital spokesman said. On Oct. 1, William Cody Wade, 6, a first-grade Bates Elementary School student, was struck by a Pulaski County Special School District bus at an intersection near his home. That accident occurred when driver Kaye Martin, 48, of Mabelvale, accelerated after she let Wade and several other children off the bus at the intersection of Dreher Road and Ada Lane in south Pulaski County. BUS ACCIDENT MEMS paramedic Pat Bajorek carries injured pupii Jeff McCox, 9. from a Little Rock School District bus after an accident Friday at North Cedar and B Arkansas Oemocral-Qazette/Steve Keesee streets. Eight children suffered minor injuries. The accident comes a week after a Pulaski County Special School District first-grader was struck and killed by a bus. Martin told Pulaski County sheriffs deputies she was distracted by several children who were arguing and didnt see Wade in front of the bus. In the brick-throwing incident Thursday night, Robert Andrew Pugh was struck in the right temple as he rode a bus from Quigley Stadium at 16th and Jones streets, police said. Pugh, a student at North Little Rock High School East, was treated at Baptist Memorial Medical Center in North Little Rock and released after the 10 p.m. incident, a hospital spokesman said. In a similar incident Friday, three Little Rock students told police they were struck by rocks while riding a bus at 23rd and Abigail streets. None of the students was injured, police said. During the 1992-93 school year, there were 158 accidents involving Little Rock District bus drivers, of which 68 involved ticketing the driver. Democrat ^(gazette. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1993 LR School Board ponders plan to Arm itself for bus safety BY KRIS HUNTER Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer Concern for the safety of children traveling on school buses has the Little Rock School Board considering the use of the Arm, a guardrail that would be attached to the outside of school buses. Talk of that new safety precaution, expanded bilingual programs and the Stephens Incentive Elementary School site dominated discussion at the boards agenda meeting Thursday. One Arm has been given to the district, with no obligation to buy, officials said. A board spokesman said specifics on how the device works are still not clear, though apparently it is a rail that would protrude from either the side or front of a school bus when it stops, warding off traffic and guarding the children getting on or off. To address the needs of the school districts 400-500 students from other countries, the board is seeking a federal grant to expand bilingual programs. The proposal, which requests $175,000 for each of the next three years, calls for hiring more tutors and buying more instructional materials. Surveys show 66 different languages within the school district, the board was told. The board is also gathering statistical information on student populations in its attempt to resolve controversy over a new site for Stephens Incentive Elementary School, now at 3700 W. 18th St. Though U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled the school could not remain at the 18th Street site, the board is appealing that decision. The ruling stipulated that Stephens would be replaced with a new interdistrict elementary school in the Interstate 630 corridor, between Interstate 30 and University Avenue. Jerry Malone an attorney for the district, said that since the ruling, one source of disagreement has been whether the school would have to be visible from Interstate 630. The information being collected is necessary to determine if enough children live in the 18th Street area to attend the elementary school, whatever the boards stance on the site, Malone said. Stephens has 180 students, from 4-year-oIds to sixthgraders. Since the school has to be rebuilt as an interdistrict school one close to an even number of black and white stu- i dents the site has been or- ! dered closed by August 1995. The real issue is whether or not we want to take another school out of a black communi- , ty, Superintendent Henry J Williams told the board. J If we close another school in the black community we are f telling them that their children I dont matter, the boards Linda Pondexter said.Arkansas Democrat (Bazcttc . WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1993 LR school bus driver arrested on warrants Little Rock School District bus driver William Montgomery was arrested on the job Tuesday morning for outstanding warrants. District Transportation Director Brad Montgomery (no relation to William Montgomery) said Little Rock police stopped the driver for speeding. He had just dropped off one load of students at a school and was on his way to pick up another load. After stopping the bus, police learned one or more warrants had been issued for William Montgomerys arrest. Brad Montgomery said police believe William Montgomery had a suspended drivers license. Brad Montgomery said his staff checks drivers for licenses at least twice a year. A check earlier this school year did not show William Montgomerys license had been suspended, he said. Brad Montgomery said William Montgomery was suspended pending a final decision on his employment.Arkansas Democrat (gazette THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 11,1993 Bus driver for LRSD facet 3 traffic counts, dismissal , Little Rock School District bus driver William Montgomery, arrested Tuesday, will stand trial Nov. 24 on charges of driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and speeding, police said. Montgomery also faces a misdemeanor charge in Sherwood for allegedly writing a hot check, Sherwood police said Wednesday. The school board recommended Montgomery be fired. Deputy Superintendent Es- . telle Matthis said Wednesday night. Matthis said the driver was hired based on excellent references. Dr. Henry Williams, district superintendent, said the driver was hired Oct. 29 and the district had not received a response to its request for in- , formation on his driving record at the time of his arre^ Williams said new employI ees are sometimes allowed!.to drive buses even before-a record check is completed if there is a critical need. ' Brad Montgomery, district director of transportation, said Tuesday that William Moii- gomery was arrested after ie delivered one group of students to a school and while-on his way to pick up another group. Brad Montgomery and William Montgomery are not related. William Montgomerys trial will be in Little Rock Munfei- , pal Traffic Court, police said. IArkansas Democrat (Bazctte WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993 Insurer to review school bus service 5 I Williams reports BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The Little Rock School Districts insurance company will conduct a comprehensive study of the districts transportation department, Superintendent Henry Williams said Tuesday. The Gallagher Bassett Insurance Co., which carries the districts vehicle and property insurance, will look at virtually all facets of the embattled departments operations, including safety records, driver histories, employee training programs, bus routes and stops, and traffic patterns. The department, the drivers and the unruly student passengers on some of the buses have come under scrutiny in recent weeks by various news organizations, including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The study is expected to begin around Dec. 1. 'The company, which approached the school district about performing the evaluation, is charging a fee of under $5,000, a district official said, but the actual cost could not be determined Tuesday night. Williams made the announcement about the study and responded to questions on such subjects as gifted education, multicultural education, building maintenance and school security at a public forum Tuesday night at Forest Heights Junior High School. About 35 people, half of whom were district employees, attended the session, which was the fourth in a series of forums. The next session will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Rockefeller Incentive Elementary School. In addition to the Gallagher study, the district has asked community members to participate on what Williams called a Blue Ribbon Committee to study transportation. Deputy Superintendent Estelle Matthis said representatives of the teachers, bus drivers, the school board, principals, the PTA and the Little Rock Police Department have been asked to become involved. Letters to those groups were mailed this week, and plans call for the group to begin meeting next month. The committee may visit the bus depot, ride a bus or take whatever steps it thinks necessary to develop recommendations for improving the system. Matthis said she and Williams have met with the bus drivers once and have asked them to propose a schedule of regular meetings during which concerns can be discussed. Williams said improved student behavior on the buses will be encouraged by working with students parents and letting them know their children can lose their bus-riding privileges. Adult supervision on problem buses also may have to be considered, he said. When asked about discipline in general, Williams said he would not tolerate disruptive behavior from students or behavior that endangers other children. Williams said school officials have taken an aggressive stand on behavior, but the media is not kind to the district. Were not as violent a population as depicted, he said, and urged his listeners to write to the newspaper to stop printing detrimental information, to stop printing crap.2B , FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1994 Pulaski Arkansas Democrat ':^azcttc Gunshot from passing car strikes LR school bus no one hurt BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK . Democrat-Gazette PolicB Reporter A gunshot fired from a passing car struck the side of a Little Rock School District bus carrying about 10 students Wednesday afternoon, police said. No injuries were report- edJ .Bus driver Arthur Coleman told police the shot was fired about 4:45 p.m. by one of four men in a tan 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier that passed the bus in the 3000 block of Walker Street. The bullet struck the metal frame of the third passenger window on the left side of the bus, cracking the window and sending glass fragments into the bus, Coleman said Thursday. The bullet wasnt found, he said. I heard the bang it was awful loud, Coleman said. The driver of the car then passed the bus and sped away. They put the pedal to the metal, he said. Police said they searched unsuccessfully for the car and its occupants. Coleman said about 10 students were in the bus during the shooting. No students were in the seat beside the window, he said. Six students, from 12 to 17, remained on board when police arrived in the 2600 block of Walker Street, where Coleman stopped the bus. All were Little Rock residents attending Oak Grove High School in the Pulaski County Special School District. Coleman said he didnt see the gunman. A 17-year-old student on the bus told police one of the passengers in the car held a 9mm pistol out the window and fired. The four occupants wore red and ranged in age from 16 to 18, the student told police. The bus and car were traveling south on Walker Street, a residential street several blocks west of Boyle Park in west Little Rock, police said. Coleman said the students in the bus appeared to have done nothing to provoke the shooting. All the windows were up, he said. No kids were hanging out, giving gang signs or anything.r Democrat^C^azcttc | SATURDAY, MARCH 5 1994 Cwwt* Lime Rock NeMfspapers. Inc. Teen on school bus hit by flying brick A junior high school student was injured Thursday evening when someone lobbed a brick through a school bus window, Little Rock police said. Little Rock School District bus driver Carolyn Williams told police she saw an unknown teen throw the brick, which struck Henderson Junior High student Shannon Hall, 15, in the face. Williams told police Shannon suffered a laceration under his right eye and several cuts. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11,1994^ School bus riders stone another bus Students on a Little Rock School District school bus threw rocks at another bus Monday afternoon and cracked its windshield, police said. Johnnette Bumworth. 24. tnlH police she was driving a bus car- ~ rying three children at 1200 Cleveland St. about 4 p.m. when students on a bus from Hall High threw rocks that cracked the windshield. Police said there were no injuries.Arkansas Democrat (gazette FRIDAY, MARCH 11,1994 * Boy reports attack awaiting school bus A Little Rock teen-ager was attacked by another youth while waiting for a school bus Wednesday morning. Vondrae Hawkins, 14, told police he was waiting on a bus at Ballinger Street and Apple Cove when an unknown youth approached him and accused him of associating with the Crips gang. Hawkins told police the other youth hit him in the face with a crutch the assailant was carrying. Police said^they could find no obvious signs of injury.Arkansas Democrat W? (gazette FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1994 ~ Shotgun fired twice at school bus stop Gunshots were fired near children who had just gotten off a school bus Wednesday afternoon at Tedbum Circle in Southwest Little Rock, but police reported no injuries. A witness told police that someone in a house on Tedbum Circle fired a shotgun twice near a bus stop where children were present. One youth on the bus told police he had fought with another student Wednesday morning at the bus stop. He told police that when they returned from school, someone from the other stu dents house fired a gun at him.'"j Arkansas Democrat :^C^azcttc [ FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1994 f Copyright 9 UtUe Rock Newspapers, Inc. I Teen gets off bus, injured by bottle Someone threw a glass bottle Wednesday, injuring a student standing near a Little Rock School District bus he had just exited. Police said the 15-year-old student was hurt about 4 20 p.m. when a glass bottle shattered near bus No. 23 at 13th and Woodrow streets, injuring the students face. , ISATURDAY, MARCH 19,1994 Suit faults drivers in bus, van accident The family of a Little Rock student filed suit Friday against the Little Rock School District, a school bus driver and a van s driver and owner over a September 1993 school bus accident. , . Michael Ford, whose age and address were unavailable, suffered severe cervical neck sprain with muscle spasms in the collision between a school bus and a 1990 Chevrolet van The suit blamed the wreck on negligence by the drivers of both the van and the bus.Arkansas Denocrat (gazette WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1994 3B LRSD bus drivers, aides warned of possible layoffs i i BY CYNTHIAHOWELL Democrat-Gazette Bucation Writer The Little Rode School District has put its sdiool bus drivers and aides or. notice that they could be laid off at the end of the school year. All but 80 of the driver and aide jobs could be eliminated if the school board decides in May to contract with a private company to operate thebus system, Superintendent Heiry Williams said in a letter to employees dated Friday. Union officialswill meet with bus driver representatives early next week to decide how to respond, said Eleanor Coleman, president of the Classroom Teachers Association. The CTA is the bargaining agent for the transportation employees through June 30, when the contract expires. Williams has not made a formal recommendation to the school board to reduce the size er contracting with private com- of the transportation depart- " ment but said in the letter to employees he may do so at the April 28 board meeting. The district would send out layoff notices if the board approves a private contractor, which could occur in May. District staff members have been working with a transportation consultant from Geor- pa to develop a proposal for hiring a transportation company. School board members had asked administrators to consid- panics for some noneducation jobs to save money. The school district must cut about $72 million to balance the 1994-95 budget. Administrators have estimated that they could save about $600,000 by hiring a private transportation company. The districts transportation department has 344 employees and a budget of $6 million this year. That includes 215 regular route drivers, 24 full-time substitute drivers, 41 special-education bus drivers and 41 aides who ride the special-education vehicles. The rest include supervisors, dispatchers, a custodian, eight mechanics, a shop foreman, a secretary, a driver trainer, a director of operations, an administrator-coordinator and a director. The department transports about 14,000 students each day on 558 routes with 306 buses. The department also transports Little Rock students who attend schools in the North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts as interdistrict desegregation transfer students. Williams said transportation employees with the most seniority would be eligible for the 80 positions the district might retain. Those employees might drive a limited number of routes to meet the needs of students who have special needs, such as children with disabilities. The Pulaski County district also is considering hiring a private company to operate the transportation system. North Little Rock School District bffi- cials have said they are interested in a private Ijus company only to the extent of transporting the interdistrict transfer students.. y.Arkansas Democrat (gazette ^DNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1994 Workers picket over LRSD plan to privatize school bus service BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Oemocrat'Gazette Education Writer About two dozen Little Rock School District bus drivers and aides picketed at the districts Administration Building on Tuesday morning over a proposal to hire private companies to operate most of the bus system next fall. Neddie Nichols, a 10-year driver for the district and head of the local teachers unions bus drivers unit, said the informational picket may continue today if the weather permits. Drivers also are expected to picket before the Little Rock School Board meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday. Nichols said Tuesday that drivers believe they will lose their jobs or benefits if the dis- j trict proceeds with plans to privatize the transportation department. I dont understand why we are the ones who have to pay for their mismanagement Nichols said. She said the employees have tried to work with the district to cut unnecessary costs and reduce absenteeism._________ I dont understand why we are the ones who have to pay for their mismanagement Neddie Nichols School district officials are requesting bids from private companies to take over the department as a way to save money and operate the system more efficiently. District officials must trim next years, expenses by more than $7 million to balance the budget and avoid an illegal deficit In the request for bids on the job, the district is requiring private companies to hire all current, qualified district employees and to pay them their current base wages and benefits as long as the employees work for them. Nichols said the picketing is also intended to tell the public that the drivers care about students and are not, as a group, conducting any kind of work slowdown. Since early this month, as many as 60 of the districts 300 drivers have been absent, making buses and students late in arriving at or leaving schools. Nichols said she believes some drivers are using up their accumulated sick leave days to avoid losing the days if and when the department is privatized. Drivers earn one sick day a month.I Arkansas Democrat (gazette THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1994 Copyright 9 Utte Rock Newspapers. Inc. Driver shortage delays students in LR district District has 42 positions open, making buses up to an hour late BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat*Gazette Education Writer The Little Rock School District has 20 bus driver vacancies that officials say must be filled immediately to reduce the number of late buses plaguing students, parents and schools. Brad Montgomery, district transportation director, said 22 drivers did not report to work Wednesday morning. Coupled with the vacancies, the department also is 42 drivers short, causing buses to be as much as an hour late getting students to school. Wednesday was typical of the problems faced daily by the transportation department in recent weeks. The district has 22 full-time substitute drivers on its staff of about 280 drivers. The substitutes drive routes when regular drivers dont report to work because of illness or other reasons. The absentee rate among drivers is worse than it was this time last year because the district in 1993 hired more drivers to pick up the stack, Montgomery said. But the response to help-wanted advertisements this year has been slow, Montgomery said. The high absentee and vacancy rates among drivers are attributed to several factors, he said. Drivers often begin taking new jobs in the spring, knowing that bus driving jobs end when school is dismissed for the summer. Also, district employees, including drivers, are speculating that some drivers are taking sick leave days in anger or fear over a district proposal to hire a private company to operate the transportation department next year. If the Little Rock School Board approves the proposal, most drivers no longer would be district employees. The district is trying to protect current employees in the event the department is privatized. Any company given the system contract must hire all qualified, current employees at their current rate of pay and guarantee benefits equal to what the employees get now. Those benefits include health and dental insurance, short-and long-term disability insurance and a retirement plan. People who want to apply for driver jobs should contact the transportation department, which is at 5400 Murray St., at 570-4000 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applicants must be at least 21, hold a valid drivers license and have no more than one moving violation on their driving records. Applicants must pass a drug test. Once an applicant is hired, the driver will be trained to become eligible for a commercial drivers license. Bus driver pay ranges from $37.13 per day to $57.16. Drivers work about five hours a day, but the work is split into two shifts, one that begins at 6:30 a.m. and ends about 9 a.m. Drivers must return to work at about 1:45 p.m. for the afternoon routes.Aikansas Democrat NiSpais. Inc. L r:.S Sc btt lib (TW ONE HURT A Southwest Junior High student peers from a school bus window a few feet away from the win- I* - d IV r* Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Steve Keesee dow shattered Wednesday when someone threw a rock at the vehicle. Student hurt when rock breaks bus window A 15-year-old Southwest Junior High School student suffered minor injuries Wednesday when a rock thrown by another student shattered a school bus window and struck him in the head, police said. The incident was the second in three days when a Little Rock School District student threw a stone and broke a bus window. The rock struck Farley Mosley of 1616 Izard St., Apartment 101, on the left side of the head at 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, Little Rock police said. Mosley was treated at Arkansas Childrens Hospital and released, a hospital spokesman said. Students at the bus stop identified a Southwest Junior High School seventh-grader as the rock thrower. 'The bus driver told police she had just made a stop at 14th and Allis streets when the rock shattered the third window from the front on the bus left side. The incident followed one Monday afternoon when students on a b IS from Hall High School threw rocks that cracked the windshield of another Little Rock School District bus with three children aboard, police said. L Aribas Democrat ^(^azcttc THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1994 Copyngnt Little Rock Newsoapers. Inc. Truck, bus collide J #' r f r fZ |z. Byij h 3L ^.. jr :ggggt3^ ^*-- f ' 4i.. _?S*p?^v -o- i# s !rf aBBtt t . 2. ^3*"' iSi"- T5. WSP w 2^ 3> J3 ^<ap: I g ? >i fi < i?x *:5^ 5 V t rl' r'*>M .Y- .-VrM<> S^Mi it <jS .' L> '.if-* sig t. ^2f: A-'fe- aiarfc ONE INJUREDA^UtUe Rock police officer directs traffic at University Avenue and Berkshire Drive about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after a Chevrolet S-10 pickup hit a Lit- tie Rock School District bus carrying 25 Chicot Elemen- tary pupils, none of whom was seriously injured. The Aritansaa DTxx3at-Gaz8art)rtd GoOBcheflc taidts driver, Joseph Vanness, was taken to University Hospital, where a sp^esman said he was in critical condition Wednesday night Bus driver Thomas Campbell said he was turning left onto University when the truck broadsided the bus. No charges were filed Wednesday.SATURDAY, JUNE15?1994 Copynght Little Rock Newspapefs. Inc. Official fears bus vote will bring dire results'' BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Oemocrat-Gazene Education Writer A Little Rock School Board member warned Friday that the decision this week against employing a private company to operate the districts school bus system will have dire consequences. John A. Riggs IV, said he feared the district could be placed into federal court receivership by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright for failing to make a responsible financial decision. The board voted 4-3 Thursday night, with virtually no discussion, against hiring a private bus company for next year. The district goes to court Tuesday for a hearing before Wright on its 1994-95 budget. Wright is presiding in the districts dese^egation lawsuit and is responsible for monitoring the districts budget and its overall compliance with the desegregation plan. The district and other parties in the lawsuit negotiated the settlement plan in 1989. It was approved by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1990. District officials announced last winter that they must make more than $7 million in cuts to balance the 1994-95 budget and avoid an illegal deficit. District strategies for cutting costs next year included privatizing the transportation department at a potential savings of $500,000. The judge is looking to make a case about how the district is squandering its money, Riggs said in a telephone interview and added that the transportation decision could be used as evidence. She could say the board is not responsible and is not looking at where it is spending its money, he said. The court hearings could be ugly. Ri^s said a proposal to hire a national transportation company could save the district about $1 million over three years and provide the district with as many as 128 new buses in the first year of a three-year contract. The district asked transportation companies last spring to bid on taking over all of the bus system except the transportation of special education students. Only Mayflower, Vancom Management Services Inc. of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., responded completely to the proposal. The company, which operates a school bus system in Memphis, said it could do. the job for $6.4 million in the first, year and $7 million the next year. District officials said it would cost them $6.5 million the first year and $7.3 million the second, year to offer the same level of service. Board members Pat Gee, O.G. Jacovelli, Linda Pondexter and Dr. Katherine Mitchell voted to reject the proposal. Board members Riggs, Kevin OMalley and Dorsey Jackson voted against the motion. OMalley said Friday he wasnt sure he wanted time to consider the proposal. He said he and other board members did not get a chance to review the proposal until the board meeting Thursday night. After spending the money to hire a consultant to help find a private company to do the job, he said, the board should have given the proposal more thought.Arkansas Democrat (gazette 1 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1994 School bus catches fire A driver hustled 19 students out a school bus rear emergency door after the vehicles engine caught fire Tuesday morning, police and school officials said. No injuries were reported. The fire, possibly the result of an electrical malfunction, was confined to the engine compartment, a Pulaski County Special School District official said. Bus driver Linda Fisher, 44, of North Little Rock saw smoke wafting out from under the buss hood at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, said i I Emanuel McGhee, district transportation director. Fisher stopped the eastbound bus on the shoulder of Maumelle Boulevard on an Interstate 430 overpass, McGhee said. She examined the engine, then told students to exit, he said.4B THURSDAY, AUGUST 25. 1994 Police beat BY JIM KORDSMEIER Democrat-Gazette Police Reporter Student hit as rock is hurled bus to bus A student riding a Little Rock School District bus Tuesday afternoon threw a rock that sailed through another buss open window and hit a student on the nose, police said. School bus driver Yolanda Strong told police she was driving west on 20th Street when another district bus passed her at Johnson Street, headed east Strong told police someone on the other bus threw a quarter-sized rock that hit Eryn Surrat, 13. The teen-ager told police she wanted to be taken to Arkansas Childrens Hospital to be checked for injuries, police said, though hospital records didnt show whether she was treated. I THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27,1994 Studentson bus knock window out IjWe Rock School District bus window out while riding home Tuesday afternoon, police said. Carol Dotson, 23, told police she was driving the bus Lee Street about 4:15 p.m. when shattered a window on the left side of the bus west on as she passed Harrison Street Two men working on the street comer told police that all the students on the bus were in an uproar and someone inside the bus broke the window.Arkansas Democrat C^azettc j SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5. 1994 Brick hits student on LR school bus A teen-age girl threw a brick through a Little Rock School District bus window Friday morning, hitting a student, police said. Bus driver Kim Lockhart, 23, told police she had stopped at her scheduled bus stop at Ma- belvale Pike and Shetland Road about 8:15 a.m. when the teen-ager threw the brick, hitting a 14-year-old passenger. The passenger told police the brick brushed the top of his head without injuring him. He jumped off the back of the bus and asked the girl why she threw the brick at him, then knocked her to the ground, police said. II Arkansas Democrat .^C^azettc | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994 J* . X^J7*+ Coovright O Uttle Rock Newsoaoers. Inc. School buses to run snow routes as drill Democrat-Gazette Staff The Little Rock School Districts transportation department will run emergency bus routes Thursday in preparation for any severe winter weather. In preparation for the annual one-day drill, school officials distributed to students earlier this month information showing where their bus stops will be on the emergency routes. In running emergency bus routes, drivers generally stay on main roadways and do not travel into neighborhoods as much as they would when running the regular routes.Arkansas Democrat IS? (5azctk WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21.1994 Bus drivers expected to be on job in LRSD Little Rock school bus drivers are expected to report for duty today despite a few sick-out threats after a Tuesday meeting. Drivers met with Russ Mayo, associate superintendent of the Little Rock School District, to discuss absenteeism. Mayo wanted drivers to suggest ways to prevent high absenteeism. Last Friday more than 50 drivers called in sick, but Mayo said that is common this time of year on Fridays when paychecks are issued. About 10 drivers walked out of Tuesdays meeting with Mayo and threatened to call in sick because he failed to address their concerns about the districts management style. But most of the districts 300 drivers are expected to show up for.work, said Neddie Nichols, a former representative of the drivers union, which is no longer recognized by the district. We have a lot of unsatisfied drivers, said Nichols, noting that shes scheduling a meeting with Mary Jane Cheatham, the districts transportation director. * If several drivers call in sick today, Nichols said, it would not be an official action. Z .Theyll be drivers who just want to be heard, she said.Arkansas Democrat WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1995 LR school bus ambush, robbery tied to gang BY JIM BROOKS Deinocral-Gazells Stall Writer A gunman stopped a Little Rock school bus Monday afternoon and several gang members searched the bu.s for a student, school officials said. When they didn't find who they wanted, they robbed two Central High School students on the bus, then fled, police said. It apparently was motivated by a group of gang-related people looking for someone, Assis- tanl Superintendent Dr. Russell Mayo said. This is the first time I can recall when armed suspects stopped a bu.s and committed multiple robberies, said Lt. Charle.s Holladay, speaking for the Little Rock Police Department. A.s the bus stopped at 17th and Boyce streets about 4 p.m. Monday to let out a student, a man ran into the road, pointed a handgun at the bus driver and threatened to slioot if he tried to drive away, authorities said. They obviously were waiting for the bus to get there, Holladay said. Three unarmed men then boarded the bus while two others walked along outside, trying to find a particular student. Neither investigators nor school district officials would say who the student was or why the group was looking for him. Of the approximately 25 students on the bus, only two were robbed, police said. Robbers took two gold chain necklaces worth about $470 and $56 in cash from the two students, police said. Detectives went to Central High School on Tuesday morning to meet with school security personnel and interview the students who were on the bus. Students identified the ambushers as gang members. See BUS, Page 11A Bus Continued from Page 1A At this point we have a general idea about the suspects but no names, Sgt. David Ebinger said. Mayo said that late Tuesday afternoon, school authorities had identified one of the men who boarded the bus. Police and school authorities said the robbers apparently were not students and all were above school age. Last year school buses and bus stops were the scenes of numerous crimes. The reports included: In a February incident, shots were fired at a Pulaski County Special School District bus in the 3000 block of Walker Street. In March, Little Rock police arrested a 14-year-old boy after a gang-related fight on a Little Police and school authorities said the robbers apparently were not students and all were above school age. Rock school bus. Also in March, two shotgun blasts were fired near children who had just gotten off a Little Rock school bus on Tedbum Circle. On Sept. 8 four teen-agers beat a Little Rock girl after she got off her school bus at 13th and Booker streets. On the same day, police arrested two junior high school students after a gang-related brawl at a Southwest Little Rock bus stop. Also in September, an 18- year-old Hall High School student leaped from the back door of a moving school bus after a disturbance broke out on the bus. In December, a man assaulted two J.A. Fair High School students near a bus stop at 26th and Gaines streets. Some Little Rock school buses are equipped with video cameras that are rotated throughout the fleet, school officials said. The bus robbed Monday had no camera on board, Mayo said. There will be one on there today, he said Tuesday.AiLansas Demucratl^($)azdk J SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1995 A M a LRSD again LRSD studies using private buses BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democral Gazetta Educalion Writsr Thp T iftio Rppt r.i Contract this year is Still uiicer- The Little Rock School D.s- object trict is trying again to get out of the transportation business. District administrators earlier this month issued a request for bids from private transportation companies to take over the school bus service used by 14,000 ...HHon-operation. The district district by May 3 would continue to operate bus- ................sewing special education The district put out a similar bid request last year and got responses from four companies. However, a divided Little Rock School Board ultimately rejected the idea of privatizing the Transportation Department. Faced with stagnant revenues and escalating costs. Superintendent Henry Williams and his staff are again recommending privatization as a way to replace the districts aging bus fleet and improve service to See LRSD, page 7B Conlinued from Page IB students. The change could possibly save the district $l(X),006 next year and $1 million over three years. School board approval of any to putting oul the bid request. Specifically, Ihc flistri ct wants a private company to op erate the 197 regular school buses and llie 67 inagncl school/majorityto-minority transfer student buses a $6.4 es students. One of the main objections voiced about privatization by some school board members and bu.s drivers i.s the potential impact on the more than 3(X) employees who would no longer work for the district. To ease those fears, the district will require any company lliat accepts the job to agree to employ all current Transportation Department employees and pay Ihcni al least the same base wages and benefits they are now gelling for a.s long a.s they work for Ilie company. Current wages for employees range from $27.90 a day for a driver who drives only one Hie inotniiig and route in evening, to a.s much a,s $57.16 a day for full-time substitute drivers who fill in for absent drivers on regular bus routes. Transportation employees get the same health, dental, disability and life insurance bene- fits received by district teachers. However a private company wouldnt be lied to the district's salary scale for any new employees, according to the proposal for a three year contract. Tlie district will rent its fleet of buses for $1 a year to the company that wins the contract. But the winning company must replace any gasoline-fueled buse.s that are more than 8 years old and any diesel powered bus that is more than 10 years old. The average age of buses in the districts fleet is 6.3 years. In the bid request, district administrators said they want to improve service to students. This past year, district buses were on time picking up and de- livering students 75 percent of the time. Typically, there is a 9 percent absentee rate for drivers. Employee turnover is 30 to 40 percent a year. Late buses are a focus of parental complaints. The district will penalize any private company for late buses al a rale of $25 per incident. The company would be fined $500 for any bus that is operated that is un fit for service. Any contractor would be required to screen all driver candidates including administering drug testing and reviewing a criminal background conducted by the Arkansas State Police. The district will reserve the right to deny employment to any driver believed to be unqualified or unfit.WEDNESDAY, MAY 10. 1995 Cooyngm O L-nt Rock Newsoaoers. Inc. -{ Arkansas Democrat ^^azette j Cited at flood barricade, LRSD driver rolls on BY JIM KORDSMEIER Democral-Gazerte Police Reporter A Little Rock School District bus driver cited for child endangerment for running a barricade in a flooded section of Boyle Park was still shuttling students Tuesday. Police stopped Roseanne Simmons, 46, Monday afternoon just before she tried to drive a 1991 International school bus across a high-water spot on Boyle Park Road, police said. cident and will be interviewing The only student on the bus the student. The transportation got out to move the barricade so director (Mary Jane Cheatham) the bus could go through, police. has already talked to the said. Officers stopped the bus driver, Vann said. The driver before it got to the high water should not have stopped and and cited Simmons. She (Simmons) is working to- done that it was inappropriate. Simmons could not be day pending the outcome of an reached for comment Tuesday investigation, district spokesman Suellen Vann said Tuesday. We are investigating the in- aftemoon. According to a police report, Simmons stopped the bus she was driving about 4:40 p.m. at a barricade set up in the 2800 block of Boyle Park Road. Nioa- mi Rottmen, 16, got out and moved the barricade out of the way, police said. Police assigned to patrol city parks stopped the bus just short of the flooded area. They called district officials and cited Simmons for running the barricade and for child endangerment Apparently the student only knew one way home and they were taking it She was t^ng the driver how to get there:'I'm not sure if its her normal route, Vann said. The student recently switched to the bus and may have been a new stop for the driver, Vann said. Rottmen told police she is a McClellan High student and that she lives on Dorchester Drive in the John Barrow Addition west of Boyle Park. Streets in Boyle Park are regularly barricaded when waters rise in flood-prone Hoek Creek. A spokesman for the city public works department said barricades in the park were set up Monday before 10 a.m. Police issued a number of citations Monday in Boyle Park for similar traffic violations, Vann said. Lt. John Hutchinson, police spokesman, said he didnt know how many citations were issued. >1-I Arkansas Democrat -^ (gazette | SATURDAY?MAY 2U,^re3n------' - - Maa^nenAT* IrW*. no.u* Ma>a>nnr Inn. Bus driver pleads guilty to charges Fined for endangering child, moving barricade on road BY PETER ARONSON Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer A Little Rock School District bus driver pleaded guilty in municipal court Friday to charges of child endangerment and moving a barricade. Little Rock Municipal Court Judge Bill Watt gave the driver, Roseanne Simmons, 46, a 90-day suspended jail sentence and fined her $250 for child endangerment and $110 plus court costs for moving the barricade. Police stopped Simmons on May 8 as she prepared to drive her school bus, with one student aboard, through a flooded section of Boyle Park Road. The McClel- Ian High School student, Nioami - Rottmen, 16, got out of the bus and moved the barricade. Police, who had been obse^- ing the barricaded area and issued several citations there that day, stopped the bus just before it reached the flooded area. Watt said that had Simmons continued, she could have put the bus in jeopardy. We have literally had flashflood problems down there where weve plucked cars out of trees, Watt said. Simmons is no stranger to Watts courtroom. Earlier this year, while driving a school bus, she struck a car and left the scene of the accident Watt said he fined her $110 plus court costs. Watt said Simmons has demonstrated a willful disregard for people and property. The judge added that if Simmons receives another citation while driving a school bus, he would suspend her commercial license and shes gonna walk, shes not gonna drive from court. It pisses me off, quite frankly. I dont like people leaving the scene of an accident, Watt said. For now. Watt said he is satisfied that the Little Rock School Districts transportation department can handle any further disciplinary action.40 FRIDAY. JUNE 9, 1995 Idea to reduce school buses given to board BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Oemocrat'Gazette Educa&on Writer Little Rock School District bus drivers pitched school board members an idea Thursday that drivers believe would save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and eliminate any need for privatizing their department. The drivers, who oppose hiring a company to operate most of the districts transportation department, recommended a plan to reduce the number of buses used daily. Speaking at a special board meeting, Dwayne Holmes, a district driver for eight years, said that enabling each bus to pick up students who live in the same neighborhood but attend different schools would increase ridership on each route and cut the number of buses needed. For example. Holmes said, 24 buses transport an average of 14 students each in west Little Rock to the Carver, Williams, Gibbs and Booker elementary schools. Combining the routes would reduce the number of buses to nine and raise the average number of passengers to 35. he said. Of the total 36 buses assigned to those four schools, combining routes citywide could reduce the number by 15, Holmes said. He estimated that the district could save $1 million for every 25 routes eliminated. Board members asked no questions and took no action on the proposal Thursday night.Arkansas Democrat (Bazcite WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1995 Transit, fate of schools top agenda BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Oemocrat-Qazette Education Writer Alter months of discussion, the future of two Little Rock elementary schools and the district's transportation department could be decided tonight by the Little Rock School Board at a special meeting at 5:30. The meeting'.s agenda says the proposed 1995-96 budget will be discussed. But board members said Tuesday they expect to vote on closing Badgett and Fair Park elementary schools and on hiring a private company to operate most of the school bus system. Those moves are designed to help the financially strapped district cut expenses for the coming school year. Both proposals have been defeated before. The board deadlocked 3-3 in April on a proposal to close Badgett, in extreme east Little Rock, and Fair Park, in central Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood. The schools are among the districts smallest, need renovations and are under-enrolled Badgett with 177 pupils, Fair Park with 282. Closing them could save $1.1 million next year, district officials have said. But staff and parents of children at the schools have begged the board not to close them, saying their smallness meam more individual attention for pupils. Earlier, board President Linda Pondexter and members Pal Gee and John Riggs IV voted against closing the schools. Katherine Mitchell, T. Kevin OMalley and Judy Magness voted to close. Aller that, a seventh board member, Stephanie Johnson, was appointed to the board. Johnson has declined to say how she might vole. District administrators are expected to make a presentation tonight about school bus services that Laidlaw Transit Inc. could provide. Last year, the board rejected a proposal for privatizing the bus system but let district officials ask for bids from companies again this spring. District bus drivers oppose privatization and have proposed their own changes in the transportation system to cut costs. The Laidlaw proposal would save the district nearly $700,000 next year and $1.4 million over the three-year contract, according to school district officials' summary of the contract provisions. Laidlaw, based in Ontario, Canada, and Cincinnati, Ohio, is the largest transit company in North America. It transports 1.8 million students a day in 40 states provinces. and five Canadian .11 llMWH*l*Arkansas Democrat '^ (Ijjazctte [ THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1995 Vote on closing 2 schools put off The Little Rock School Board wont vote until June 22 on closing two elementary schools next fall and employing a private company to operate its school bus service. Board members were expected to vote at a special meeting Wednesday. In fact, representatives of Laidlaw Transit Inc., the company seeking the job of running the bus system, traveled Wednesday to Little Rock to make a presentation to the board. But district officials said Wednesday afternoon that the meeting had to be postponed because board members had questions about the proposal that required further research by Laidlaw. The companys headquarters are in Cincinnati and Ontario, Canada. Also, board member Katherine Mitchell was out of state Wednesday and couldnt attend the special session. That created the potential for 3-3 tie votes on both the bus service contract and the proposal to close the Badgett and Fair Park elementary schools. In April, Mitchell voted to close the two elementary schools. That motion was defeated with a 3-3 tie. She voted against efforts to privatize the school bus system last year, but the contract proposal is different this year and financial problems are more severe. Both proposals seek to cut district expenses in 1995-96. Closing the two schools would save about $1.1 million. Hiring Laidlaw Transit would save about $700,000 the first year of a three-year contract and about $1.4 million over three years. The board will take up the budget at either their 6 p.m.. regular monthly meeting June 22 or at a special meeting right before that.Aikansas Democrat (gazette TUESDAY, JUNE 20,1995 Privatizing buses a $700,000 saving, LRSD officials say BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democral-GazeWa Edocallon Writer A private company could operate most of the Little Rock School Districts bus service at a savings of $700,000 next year, and of at least $1.4 million over three years, district officials say. At the same time, the contractor could improve service to 12,000 students, upgrade the bus fleet and guarantee 300 drivers and aides their current wages, according to a school administration report. The Little Rock School Board will decide Thursday whether to hire Laidlaw Transit Inc. of Cincinnati and Ontario, Canada, to take over its transportation system for the next three years. If the contract is approved, Laidlaw will provide bus service to most area schools and magnet schools, and to majority-to-niinority transfer students. The board.s vote Thursday could end two years of debate over privatizing the bus system. The vote is scheduled for the day before district officials update U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright on proposed budget cuts for next year Wright enforces school desegregation in the district and must approve budget decisions. A similar privatization proposal was defeated last year, 4-3, without much board discussion. That decision prompted Wright to . with the most seniority would .................. keep their jobs with the district, question the boards reasoning. She urged the district to use its budgeting and planning systems to manage its affairs and keep the community informed about budget proposals. The district would pay the company $6.1 million next year. Laidlaw wouldlease the districts serviceable buses and the transportation facility on Murray Street for $1 each. It also would acquire 39 replacement buses for use in the district for each of the next two years, and 37 buses in the third year of the contract. The bottom line to the community is that the bus system will run more economically and the dollars we save can be used in the classroom," said Mary Jane Cheatham, the districts director of transportation. Fred Smith, the districts director of support services, said he had some initial doubts about privatizing but concluded that Laidlaw has the experience and resources to make improvements next year that would take the district up to seven years to duplicate. Smith and Cheatham said Laidlaw can acquire buses and parts at low costs. Laidlaw, the largest student transportation company in North America, can replace 39 buses a year for the district at an annual cost of about $1 million. The district could only acquire 26 buses for the same $1 million. The company also can save money through maintenance, they said. Its preventive maintenance program extends the life of the vehicles, and the company has one mechanic for every 20 buses, compared with the districts ratio of one mechanic for every 39 buses. Bus drivers have opposed privatization and have olTered an alternative plan for saving the district money by combining bus routes. Cheatham said the drivers plan has merit and may be implemented even if Laidlaw gets the contract. Even if bus service is privatized, the 80 drivers and aides which will continue to operate the special education bus service for about 500 students. The remaining district drivers, aides and mechanics are guaranteed jobs with Laidlaw at the same base wages they earn now, plus comparable, but not identical, benefits. The company would conduct criminal background checks and drug tests on drivers. The district can deny employment to people believed unqualified for the job. The school district would have the right to fine the company for buses that are late or early picking up students after the first four weeks of school in September.Arkansas Democrat Sti gazette FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1995 LR schools hand bus keys to private firm - dents in at least 40 states, five Canadian provinces, and such cities as Memphis, MilwaukeCi Gulfport, Miss., and Huntsville, BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer A divided Little Rock School Board voted Thursday to get out of the school bus business by turning over operation of most of its transportation department to a Related articles 5B U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright at a hearing at 9 a.m. today. Wright monitors district budget decisions to ensure compliance with the districts desegrega- tion plan. Ala. , The agreement mark.s the end of almost two years of debate ovbr privatizing bus service. District bus drivers and the Classroom privale company. Ill a special meeting on budget issues, board membersi also ap- "'lnVthrVa7geZschool Opposed the move despite assur proved closing the small Badgett transportation contractor in ances that the drivers would Be and Fair Park elementaries b merica. The company, guaranteed jobs with the compa save $1.5 million. N headouarters in Burlington,, ny at their current rates of pay The closings and the bus ser- with headquayers ni Bur ing , See BUSK, Page 14A vice ^lan will be presented to Ontario, transpprts 1.8 million st 1 T The school board voted 4 3 to enter into a contract with Laidlaw Teachers Association yehementiy I Buses trict employees will have a different pay rate that hasnt been an- nounced. .*unceu. i Gary Whitledge, a Laidlaw?* spokesman, said the company* - pays drivers between $7.50 and $10 an hour elsewhere. He said _ _ ----- he anticipated offering some type contract terms, board members of health insurance package for Judy Magness, Dr. Katherine (bose employees. Mitchell, T. Kevin OMalley and fbe contracts features inJohn A. Riggs IV voted for the olude extensive training pro- Continued from Page lA and with comparable insurance benefits. After a presentation on the three-year, $19.5 million contract, which could save the district as much as $2.3 million. Board members Pat Gee, Stephanie Johnson and Linda Pondexter voted against it Mitchell, who helped defeat a similar contract proposal last year, said Thursday she changed her vote because she knew more about the contract terms this year and felt confident that the employees would not be harmed. I She pointed out that as Laidlaw ' employees, the drivers would be eligible for unemployment compensation during school holidays a benefit now closed to them. Little Rock is believed to be grams for drivers and children mandatory drug testing and criminal background checks for employees, and fees assessed against the company for buses that arrive early or more than 15 minutes late on their routes. Peter Settle, marketing director for the company, said Laidlaw averages about 1.5 accidents per 100,000 miles, compared to Little Rocks rate of 2.8 accidents per 100,000 miles. The company averages eight out-of-service buses per day, compared to 20 in Little Rock. Laidlaw-managed buses the only district in Arkansas to turn over its school bus service to trict. are on time 99 percent of the time, compared to 78 percent of the time for the Little Rock dis- a private company. Laidlaw will lease 235 Little Rock buses for $1 per bus per year. Over three years, the company will add about 115 new or low-mileage snub-nosed diesel buses of its own to the Little Rock The vote to close Badgett and Fair Park elementaries was 4-3 with no discussion. The decision rescinded a board vote in April that allowed the schools to remain open. The schools are among the dis- fleet. The company buy its buses tricts smallest, said Dr. Russ from the AmTran Co. in Conway. Mayo, associate superintendent Laidlaw will also lease the dis- for desegregation. tricts transportation facility on f.................................... ____ .... . Badgetts student attendance Murray Street for $1. 2one in extreme east Little Rock The Little Rock district will become part of the Washing- operate buses only for about 500 Magnet Elementary School special education students out of attendance zone. Badgett stu- a facility on 21st and Barber jg^ts will be assigned to Washstreets. The 80 drivers with the but some will be able to gboose transfers to Clinton Mag- the opportunity to remain with Oakbrooke and Sylvan Hills gtementaries in the Pulaski The Little Rock district will most years of service will have the district and drive those buses. Laidlaw is expected to hire more than 200 drivers, as well as managers, dispatchers and office staff. District employees will be offered jobs first at the same pay and similar benefits, including membership in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Drivers and aides will no County Special School District. Fair Parks attendance zone in central Little Rock will be divided among three schools. Pupils living in the Fair Park zone north of Interstate 630 will be assigned longer get one day of sick leave per month but will get incentive pay for perfect attendance. Drivers employed by Laidlaw who are not current Little Rock dis- ementary. to Brady Elementary. Most of the pupils living south of the interstate will be assigned to Franklin Incentive School. Those living in a small area east of Peyton Street will be assigned to McDermott El-2B WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1995 Pulaski Arkansas Democrat '^(gazette s Hit-and-run 18-wheeler hits LRSD bus, injures 12 on board BYJAKESANDUN Democra-Gazette Staff Writer A tractor-trailer rig that smashed into a Little Rock school bus Tuesday morning slightly in- jured 11 children and the bus driver before the rig fled on a downtown interstate. - The unidentified driver didnt ^t away with the hit-and-run. thanks to a man and a woman in a 1991 Honda Prelude who chased the truck from the Roosevelt Road exit on Interstate 30 to the eastbound Interstate 440 exit Ann Vick and her passenger, Willie Harris, both of North Little Rock, returned to the accident scene with the name of the trucking company and the rigs registration and license numbers for police. He looked like he was going to stop, Harris said later from his home. Then the red light changed, and he went right on under it and got on the freeway. Thats when we took off behind him. Vick didnt answer calls made to her home Tuesday, He wasnt thinking about the kids on that bus. There isnt any way someone should do something like that Harris said. Little Rock police will notify two companies named on the truck Gibson hitemational Truck Co. and D J. International who can trace the driver, said Terry Hastings, a police spokesman. The truck carried a Texas registration. He was looking at me when I was writing everything down. Harris said of the truck driver. I said I hope hes not going to run over here on us.... He wasnt about to stop or turn around or nothing The Little Rock School District bus was taking 37 children ages 6 to 11 to a summer school program at Washington Magnet Elementary School when the driver, Debbie Barker, exited northbound off 1-30 about 8 a.m. The bus was turning west onto East Roosevelt Road when the 18- wheeler crossed into its lane, with the trailers left side crumpling the right front comer of the yellow school bus, police said. Eleven children who had been sitting on the right side of the bus were taken by ambulances to Arkansas Childrens Hospital with minor injuries. All were treated and released, a hospital spokesman said. Barker. 32. was taken to University Hospital and treated and released before noon, a hospital spokesman said. Everybody on the ri^t side hit the windows. Ukila Witherspoon, 9, said before leaving Childrens with her mother, Yarnell Witherspoon. He was coming at us fast and he hit us. I hit the window, said Ronnie Love, 10, holding an ice pack on his shoulder. It was a diesel (truck). Calvin Tatum. 11. who was also on the bus but escaped injury, went to the emergency room to see Ronnie, his brother, with Karen Greenlee, Washingtons kindergarten through fourth-grade summer school principal. The five-week program ends a week from Thursday. We were getting off the interstate. and the truck came from the side, Calvin said. It tore the front and side off. All that is off. School district officials estimated the damage at a minimum of $1,800. consistent with the police accident reports figure.THURSDAY, JULY 13,1995 FBI hunts owner of rig that hit school bus BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK Democrat-Gazette Police Reporter Investigators searching for the owner of a tractor-trailer that Strack a Little Rock School District bus this week have asked federal officials to help trace a pair of the trucks license numbers jotted down by witnesses. Little Rock police said their initial check showed the rigs Texas registration number didnt exist in the National Crime Information Center, the FBIs nationwide computer data base. Police Wednesday asked the ' information center to search Texas registration records for the number, Little Rock police hit and run investigator Raymond Ferrell said. Police also asked the information center to search registration records in all 50 states for a number on the trailer, he said. Officers hope to learn the trucks owner today. Witnesses said the tractortrailer, which had separate license numbers on its cab and trailer, was marked with the names Gibson International Truck Co. and D.J. International. Neither firm is registered in Arkansas, Ferrell said. The tractor-trailer cut off a Little Rock School District bus with 37 children on board about 8 a.m. Tuesday, striking the bus front right comer. Eleven of the children were treated for minor injuries at Arkansas Childrens Hospital and released. Both vehicles were turning left from Interstate 30 onto Roosevelt Road when they collided. The trucks driver made a second left onto southbound 1-30, then turned east on Interstate 440, police said. Witnesses in a 1991 Honda Prelude chased the truck as far as Bankhead Drive, recording information.[ Arkansas Democrat | MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1995 ' Private bus firm picks up I^SE^ BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer When the yellow school buses roll into the neighborhoods early Monday to pick up Little Rock indents for the first day of school, it wont be business as usual. After two years of debate, this summer the Little Rock School District turned over the operation of a 211-bus fleet to Laidlaw Transit Inc., the largest school bus transportation contractor in North America. The company Edward Streeter, who moved ' , bus drivers will strictly en takes 1.8 million students to and here from Miami to be the new. said, from school in at least 40 states terminal manager, said conver^^.* rripi!d ih , company I and five Canadian provinces. It , See BUSES. Page hS w^^ Buses Continued from Page 1A sion of the bu.s service has been remarkably smooth. While there is no avoiding the confusion that typ- the district's other buses, feature a studeni continues to misbehave side and roof escape hatches, two- the company will seek a confer- way radios and tlie strobe lights and cnce with the parents before ......crossing arms now required by moving a studeni from the bus ifie.s the first few days of school, slate law. By .lamiary, 50 percent of a last resort. Streeter said he expects to provide the bus fleet will be new as buses Driver supervisors will rou- Little Rock with a system where purchased by the district and the finely drive throughout the city to safe buses run on time, drivers are state will be added. The stale buses monitor buses and will meet with are for magnet school students. principals and assistant princi- Fellow drivers on the morning pals about student discipline 12,000 regular and interdistrict commute may wonder why the They plan to present programs on transfer students. The Little Rock buses operate with their head- discipline and safety to students district will operate a much lights on, and why the buses won't parents and civic groups. The pre- smaller bus service for about 500 make right lurn.s on red traffic trained and students behave. Laidlaw will transport about handicapped students. Streeter alerted all parents, students, teachers, and even fellow rush-hour drivers to some changes in the bus service. For starters, Laidlaw bought 39 ents, teachers and principals will new flat nose buses to be integrat- ed into the Little Rock fleet. The time. Last year, the district reportbuses, made in Conway at a cost j cla.s.se,s 26 percent of the time, r---------------r --------causing classes to be disrupted Winnie the Pooh and has a three-year, $19.5 million- > students to miss instruction. ----- - - Bus breakdowns and employee absenteeism were blamed. , _ ---------rap music. Laidlaw hired 160 former Little Rock drivers and gave them a system that is expected to save ''"Thh^vp^^n%'!iiqfr? n r y' the district $2.3 million. , ahUaw Z 7' 'perience. Some of the former - - I us that IS late drivers are now Laidlaw supeni ' . sors. The firm hired another 80 ^^l^'ng k I ds to be at bu.s drivers at a starting wage of $8 50 in.Q in mintifoe U... ________ r,,. **^*6 wngv UI contract to run the Little Rock JI errrerft^m to ovn/ut^A/l -i The buses that make the rounds today will be Laidlaw- owned or -leased buses. And the . j stop.s 10 minutes before their bus- umformed drivers in yellow d es are scheduled to arrive, polo shirts, dark pants and dark J Streeter said. Bus drivers are inshoes will be Laidlaw employ- stmeted to stop at every bus slop ees, even though they may be i - for 30 seconds, then move on if no the same people who drove the students board. The buses won't buses last year as Little Rock >J return to pick up students who district employees. ' "'H "They have treated u.s real nice, I,ewis said at Laidlaws ------------------------ to belter see children who might buses, Strceler said ........ dis- ''They made sure we had iohs - Th? buses, larger han oral and then written warnings If she said They sent us cSed letters and called us on the telephone to make sure we knew about the application dates. ,, We will refuse to allow a mi of $2.1 million, will enable drivers nority of students to disrupt the lights even though the turns are legal. Both measures are designed to keep children safe, Streeter said. Company officials hope parnote that the buses will run on ed that school buses were late to This year, the district will fine i arriving at a school. Misbehaving students will get re- as sentations for students feature an hour. The company i,s still taking applications. All applicants undergo a crime record check and a drug screening. Little Rock drivers opposed privatizing the system, despite guarantees of their same base salaries and benefits. But drivers Connie Lewis and Felicia Smith said last week that they are satisfied, so far, with Laidlaw. tt Lewis said she also appreciates what she believes will be a stronger stand against student misbehavior and that drivers won't retrace their routes to pick up students who missed the bus. Smith said she has no complaints but expects her take home pay to drop. The school district paid drivers for taking on extra routes. Because Laidlaw has changed the workday, it may be harder to earn extra pay. The father of two grown children, Streeter moved to Little Rock this summer from Miami, where he was operations manager for Mayflower Contract Services, a company purchased by Laidlaw. A native of Washington, D.C., Streeter's parents were raised in Crossett and he has relatives there as well as in Pine Bluff and Lake Village. Mike Jones, former operations trict, is the assistant director of the facility for Laidlaw.I I Arkansas Etemocrat^C^azcttc | FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1995 District will return school bus service to some in SWLR BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The Little Rock School Board voted late Thursday to restore bus service to some Southwest Little Rock students who lost the service because they were attending schools outside their attendance zones. The decision came at the end of a long meeting dominated by harsh discussion on two subjects district bus service and a proposal to hire an Illinois company to manage custodial services in the schools. In a series of votes, the divided board ultimately rejected a pro- portation. adding a bus. John Walker, an attorney for black children in the district, filed a motion Tuesday asking U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright to order the district to continue bus service for students whose transfers help desegregate schools. He asked the judge to deciare the district in contempt of court for reassigning Pulaski Heists students from Southwest Little Rock to other schools while allowing other students to continue to attend the school as long as they provide their own trans- posal to sign a contract with Ser- Several Little Rock School DisviceMaster Management Services trict drivers and parents com- Inc. But only six of the seven plained Thursday about the bus board members were present. service in general and special ed- and the issue could be raised ucation buses in particular. ITie again. More than two dozen district operates the special edu- cheering custodial and mainte- cation buses but turned over nance employees attended the transportation of all other students to a private company this meeting to oppose the contract Board members were to conduct year. The Little Rock drivers com- Superintendent Henry Williams annual evaluation 'Thursday, but plained about the special educa- they delayed _that until a special tion buses need for repairs and said the condition of the buses meeting next 'Thursday. 'The boards decision to restore the Southwest Little Rock bus causes them to be late in picking up children. The drivers also said routes could cost the district some of their routes are more $140,000 ^,000 for each of five than an hour long. buses. But the decision also may Freddie Smith, district manag- head off a federal court hearing er for support services, said the set for 3 p.m. today on the issue. Carolyn Rufus, mother of two district and Laidlaw Transit Inc, are continuing to make adjust- Pulaski Heights Junior High ments in services. More than one- School students, told the board third 163 of Laidlaws 453 she and other parents had to miss routes were revised as of 'Thurs- work or change their work sched- day to accommodate students who registered late or whose address- ules to get their children to and from school this week. She said es changed. More route changes her children were transported by will take effect Tuesday and bus last year, but she learned earlier this month that the service would be discontinued. again two days later. Laidlaw had enough drivers to cover all routes 'Thursday but Rufus children are attending didnt on any one day all of last the school as desegregation transfer students. The district has a policy of transporting students who transfer out of their zones only if the service doesnt require semester. Smith said. The company has four weeks to resolve problems before the district starts fining the company for every morning bus that arrives at school late.1OB FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1995 Arkansas Democrat (gazette Deadline near for contractor to smooth out LR busing problems BY SHAREESE HAROLD Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer Last-minute schedule changes, students fighting on buses and complaints about children picked up two hours late have Laidlaw Transit Inc. scrambling to keep its word to improve the Little Rock School Districts bus system. Ed Streeter, Laidlaws terminal manager, said hes optimistic that all of the kinks will be worked out before Sept 18, the end of the companys 30-day probation period. At the end of the probation, Laidlaw will be penalized $25 every time a bus is more than 15 minutes late picking up students. In the meantime, west Little Rock resident Bobby Hacker said, his son is the one paying for the problems the district and the company are having. We have an 8-year-old who has been left waiting for a bus each morning that has never come since last Wednesday, said Hacker, whose son Joseph is one of the last students scheduled to be picked up on a Elementary School Dodd route. Hacker and his wife work and are concerned that when the bus fails to pick up their son, Hes just left waiting around wondering how hes going to get to school. The bus company told Hacker the driver of his sons bus quit Thats not our problem, Hacker said. They should be able to get someone to replace drivers who dont show up or who quit The district signed a three- year, $19.5 million contract with Laidlaw during the summer. Officials expect to save $2.3 million by allowing the company to transport about 12,000 regular and interdistrict students. The districts 227 buses travel 454 routes each day. Despite problems with driver absenteeism and with overnight changes in schedules and routes, Streeter said, students fighting on buses may be an even bigger problem. Twelve Mabelvale Junior High students were sent home for fighting on a bus en route to the school Tuesday morning. Three students were arrested on assault charges. Thursday, four more students involved in a fight were sent home. Jim Principal Mabelvale Fullerton will decide whether the students will be allowed to ride the bus again. We have video cameras on some of our buses, Streeter said. .And this Mabelvale group has been having problems since school started. Thursdays fight was caught on video camera. Thatll help us target the troublemakers, Streeter said the company expects to live up to the terms of its contract We have resolved some of those problems, and were working on resolving more, he said.I Arkansas Democrat 7^ (f^azcHc ( SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1995 Williams champions bus service System improving, school chief insists BY JAKE SANDLIN DeniocrB|.GazelIe SlaS Wilier Little Rock Superintendent Dr. Henty Williams on Friday defend ed the private firm mnning the school district's bus system and assured parents that service is improving despite early problems The Little Rock School Board lured I.aidlaw Transit Inc. last June to take over bus service to most district schools, ending almost two years of debate over whether the city's school bus .system should be privatized. However, I.aidlaw's first three weeks have been bumpy. Williams acknowledged receiving about 100 complaints from parents concerning missed stops, late nins, bus breakdowns and high driver absenteeism. But Williams added that many of the complaints were from parents who did rtot know who to call about a problem "All of the problems that we've had are not Laidlaw problems, he said. "There have been Little Rock School District problems." fhc district still handles bus h ai^portalion for its approximately .100 special education students, IjRidlaw has a tliree-year, $195 million contract with the district Ilie deal is supposed to save the district as much as $2.3 million. Tlie contract also provides a 30-day probation period that ends Sept. 18, stipulating a $25 penalty for every lime a bus is more than 15 minutes late picking up students after tliat date. We're not holding it over their heads, Williams said. But he added, Our expectations are if they don 't do their job, they have to suffer the consequences." Iliree fights on school buses this week helped draw attention to bus problems. Williams said he is aware of five serious incidents on buses during the past three weeks, three fewer than the eight reported in the first two weeks of school last year. Two fights occurred on a Mabel vale Junior High bus this week. That bus now has a district security ofiicer on it, Laidlaw Terminal Manager Ed Streeter said. He said buses identified as problems are followed and monitored closely. more "We believe that the children are safe, Streeter said. Problems with bus routes have resulted in more than 500 route clianges to better accommodate parents and students, Williams said. Those changes include altering routes for address changes, and moving bus stops from "comer A to comer B. Our transportation system is improving," Williams said. At least one problem Laidlaw has IS new: It hasn't obtained a busines privilege license from Little Rock. The city Revenue Collection Division sent I.aidlaw a letter Friday giving it 10 days to fulfill the requirement it has "obviously chosen to Ignore or face possible legal action and fines for violating a citv code. re- Streeter said Laidlaw has t check ready to pay for the license. aArkansas Democrat (gazette SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,1995 . . Copyright O Lfttki Rndc Newwwwi bw._ School bus drivers dont get paychecks Some Little Rock School District bus drivers finished their routes Friday and left without the paychecks they were anticipating at the end of the day, a school spokesman said. A payroll sheet containing checks for some Laidlaw Transit Inc. employees was either lost or stolen, and company employees worked into the night to figure out the problem. This is Laidlaw's first year as a subcontractor handling bus service for the school district "Everybody will get paid. district spokesman Suellen Vann said. "Some of the drivers just decided to leave and come back (today) to pick up their checks. Laidlaws terminal manager, Ed Streeter, was still working at 8:30 p.m. Friday to straighten out the payroll problem. Vann said. Streeter could not be reached for comment.j Arkansas Democrat (gazette TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 1995- LRSD buses getting on track Routes continue to change, but complaints about service down BY SUSAN ROTH Democrai-Gazette Education Writer The private company running the Little Rock School Districts bus system steadily continues to improve its service after a rocky start, officials said Monday. We've had no more problems than we usually have, said Mary Jane Cheatham, the districts director of transportation. Private contractor Laidlaw Transit Inc. is an extension of her department. Many parents have complained that buses were late, broke down . interdistrict transfer schools. or never came for their children. Cheatham and Laidlaw officials said the complaints have dropped dramatically in the past week. Monday was the first day for which Laidlaw will be fined for buses that arrive at school more than 15 minutes late or early. The company had a 30-day grace period to get routes in order. Monday afternoon, district officials said they did not yet know of any late buses. One bus was early, but it arrived at school within 15 minutes of its scheduled time. But Cheatham said the driver had missed some students and another driver had to go back and pick them up. But since routes are continuing to change 97 more changes went into effect today and another 30 will occur Thursday, officials said the district is phasing in the penalties over the next two months. "rhe first set of buses being held to the 15-minute rule are those serving the schools that are a critical part of the districts desegregation plan: the magnets and Cheatham said those also happen to be the most stable routes, because children tend to stay at thosQ schools. The 80 buses will be monitored daily for the.- next two weeks through reports from each of the schools, Cheatham said. After that, Laidlaw will be able to respond to the reports. 'The company will be fined $25 for every time a bus is more than 15 minutes late or early. Cheatham said her goal is to get students to school on time and to administer the contract in a fair and consistent manner, not necessarily to penalize the bus company. Some problems are their fault and some lie with the district she said. We are looking for long-term solutions. We are sharing information and workii^ out solutions every day, she said. This is not about finger-pointing. Officials didnt have recent reports on bus arrivals, but in the first two weeks of school, 723 out of 2,441 were late. Cheatham said she used last years definition of late in arriving at those figures, not the new 15-minute rule. She said only about 15 percent of the 723 would have resulted in fines. Laidlaw is transporting stur dents under a three-year, $19.5 million contract that is supposed to save the district up to $2.3 million. 'The company serves about 12,000 interdistrict and regular students, while the district retains responsibility for transporting about 500 special education students. Laidlaws 220 buses travel about 450 routes, Cheatham said. About 500 changes have already been made to the routes.Arkansas Democrat 19? (gazette FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1995 LR school bus driver dismissed A Little Rock school bus driver was fired this week for hitting a student, school officials said. Kyan Harris, 23, allegedly hit and cursed a pupil while substituting on the Ish Elemental School route Sept 13, officials said. The childs parent brought authorities a statement signed by other witnesses parents. Laidlaw Transit Co., the private company under contract to the Little Rock School District to run the bus system, suspended Harris without pay the following day pending an investigation. Company officiais completed their investigation a week ago and fired Harris on Monday. Harris drove for the school district last year. Laidlaw hired him Aug. 21 to drive this year. Ed Streeter, terminal manager for Laidlaw, said Harris did not usually drive the Ish route and those kids wouldnt normally come into contact with him." Harris had not had any other problems since August, Streeter said.rAikansas DemocraT^^azc^ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, School buses carry tax shock LRSD told it must pay $87,000 on purchase by private operator BY CHRIS REINOLDS Oefnocrat-Qazette Staff Writer The Little Rock School Dis- trict must pay $87,000 in sales tax for a private companys new school buses, officials told the more unforeseen costs. I dont want any more sur- nal bid or contract. Smith said. The district hired Laidlaw - this year in a three-year, $19.5 pnses, Pondexter said, million contract that is supposed school board Thursday night The law exempts school dis- to save up to $2.3 million. The company serves about 12,000 interdistrict and regular students, while the district retricts'from paying sales tax, as tains responsibility for transwell as license and registration porting about 500 special educa- fees. on school buses only if the tion stude^^ _ _ _ district owns the buses, said Freddie Smith, the districts Board President Linda Pon- dexter and board member Pat Gee were surprised and angry at manager of support services. . Laidlaw Transit Inc., the pn- the oversight. You mean we pay the taxes vate company that provides most * actpH of the districts bus service, on their buses. Gee asked olans to buy a total of 150 buses Smith. ir the next three years in the next tnr y experiences we didnt think we had to pay sales tax, Smith said. Pondexter asked district attorneys to review the Laidlaw contract to find if there were any Thirty-nine buses are new this year. Laidlaw has agreed to pay $2,500 for licenses and registration but will not pay the sales tax since it was not in the origi- This was considered up Superintendent Henry Williams suggested that the district ask the sUte Legislature to revise the law so any entity including a private company that owns and operates a school bus would be exempt from state sales tax. Despite the costs, Williams said the district will still save about $570,000 a year using Laidlaw. new Arkansas Democrat ^(^5azellcJ SATURDAY. MARCH 2, 1996 LRSD driver charged in beating of son BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK Democrat-Gazette Police Reporter A Little Rock School District bus driver on probation for a misdemeanor weapon conviction now faces a charge of second-degree batteiy for allegedly hitting his son with an extension cord, police said. , Harold Waj-ne Brown. 35. of 11019 -Mara Lj-nn Road was released on $5,000 bond Friday after pleading innocent to tlie misdemeanor battery charge. Investigators said he grabbed an extension cord and struck his 17- year-old son numerous times on the "back after the boy returned home from school about 6 p.m. Tuesday. The boy was treated by a school nurse. A Little Rock municipal judge convicted Brown on Aug. 18. 1995. on a misdemeanor charge of cariy- ing a weapon, fined him $901 and placed him on probation for a year. He previously had been convicted of two other misdemeanors a 1994 charge of loitering for the purpose of narcotics and a 1993 charge of obstruction of governmental operations. The Little Rock School District hired Brown as a school bus driver March 3.1994. a district spokesman said Friday. As a Little Rock driver, he would automatically have qualified to be hired by Laidlaw Transit Co, when the district turned over its school bus operations to the private com- pany in 1995. -Another school bus drivers arI rest in the reported rape of a 16- year-old student last month prompted Laidlaw to pertbrm back^ound checks on as many as 130 drivers. Mike Jones, an employee at Laidlaw's terminal in Little Rock, said Friday that the company had finished the checks on all its drivers. But Jones said he couldn't comment on specific employees and referred additional questions i to terminal manager Ed Streeter, i Streeter could not be reached for comment late Friday. | Pulaski Count)- sheriffs deputies arrested Laidlaw driver .Artie Lam- i ont Tucker. 22. on a charge of rape ' Feb. 7.Arkansas Democrat TUESDAY. MARCH 26, 1996 I iHlo Hock Inr Truck rams school bus, sending 10 to hospital Nine schoolchildren and their bus driver were taken to Little Rock hospitals Mondav afternoon after a truck hit their bus while it was stopped on Chicot Road, police said. The children were taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital and Southwest Hospital after the wreck at 3:55 p.m. The southbound bus was stopped on Chicot Road at Shady Grove Lane in Southwest Little Rock when a large flatbed truck driven by William Perez rammed the bus from behind, police said. Perez. 37. of Shannon Hills was cited for following too close, police said. The children and the driver were complaining of neck pain and backaches and were being X- rayed for injuries Monday night, said Suellen Vann, the school districts spokesman. All were treat-IO ll n 7 J I >1 I WSOWMS: Lund hod School boWo, Laidtew H Arkansas Dmocraf-Ga20He I Arkansas Democrat^()p>azctk , - , -MONDAY, APRIL 1,1996 Laidlaw beating LRSDs record with buses BY JULIAN E, BARNES Oemocral-Gazelte Staff Wrifar Three bus accidents with ac- companying TV reports in one week left the manager of the private bus company that transports Little Rocks public school students shaking his head. The accidents, Fortunately most of the accidents have been fender This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.