From: Phil_Duffy@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us
To: mweingarten@earthlink.net
Cc: Cindy_Loe@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; Linda_Anderson@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; Charles_Buchanan@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; jim_steele@gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; Grant_Reppert@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:41 PM
Mr. Weingarten:
In response to your e-mail of 3/7, we agree that depending solely on the web site would not communicate with anyone (child or adult) lacking access to the Internet for whatever reason.
The separate document you recommend to deal with this issue is in fact the local school handbook that supplements the more generic district-wide Student/Parent Handbook. The transportation numbers for routine matters will be published there as well as the school’s number to call for immediate pickup/delivery issues.
Each school bears the responsibility to adequately man their phones before/after the school day. Area Superintendents have been asked to insure the schools comply.
There is no need to apologize for being committed to seeing that your school district serves the best interests of your children. We strive to do just that every day. Thanks again for your input and help.
Regards,
Phil Duffy
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Mr. Duffy et al.:
Thank you for your message, I appreciate you keeping me in the loop and including me in the process.
I don’t know enough to know if the “transportation supervisor” contact referenced in bullet point one and the “cluster transportation” contacts referenced in bullet point three are the same, but I would recommend that the phone numbers be published in the handbook or as a separate, dedicated transportation pamphlet for two reasons: 1. It cannot be assumed that everyone has Internet access… 2. While in an ideal world at least one parent would be available in this situation, unless GCPS can mandate it, it has to be assumed that the child(ren) will have to fend for themselves. It would be much easier on a child to reference printed material than to have them attempt to access a cumbersome URL (http://gwinnett.k12.ga.us/web-facilities.nsf/00000000000000000000000000000000/92df4c4ac698c12785256aee004880ed?OpenDocumentonline), again assuming they even have Internet access or parental access to a computer. This becomes especially true when faced with an unexpected, pressured, early morning decision. One can only hope that a parent would at least coordinate the location of these printed materials with their child(ren). It could also be encouraged to have these numbers programmed into a child’s cell phone.
Will provisions be made to have someone available to answer early morning calls from both the school and county ends as routes are being run and as early problems would arise? You would probably also benefit from adding language to request nominal allowances for traffic and weather related delays, etc.
Again, I would recommend either a dedicated section of the handbook or better yet a dedicated pamphlet with all of the related policies and contact information. From a purely business perspective the cost/benefit can be justified in the potential savings of a single judgment against the county in civil litigation accrued from an unfortunate incident at a bus stop.
I’m going to apologize in advance if the following sounds hokey, but it’s true… I teach my kids that while most of us do not possess the power to change the world, we are obligated to attempt to change our own little corner of it should a perceived need present itself. If I were not to assume this same burden when necessary I would be a hypocrite. I may be a simple doting dad, but I’m expecting my kids to do their best to make this world a better place for all of us as we grow old together.
Please do me the favor of a reply.
—– Original Message —–Cc: Cindy_Loe@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; Linda_Anderson@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; Charles_Buchanan@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; jim_steele@gwinnett.k12.ga.us ; Grant_Reppert@Gwinnett.k12.ga.usSent: Friday, March 07, 2008 11:59 AMSubject: District-wide Transportation CommunicationsMr. Weingarten:
I wanted to share with you our formal plans to address your subject concern:
- The following two paragraphs will be included in the 2008-09 Student/Parent Handbooks:
- For routine transportation questions or information, please contact the Transportation Supervisor for the school your child attends. Their number is available on the GCPS Web Site.
- For immediate help in resolving a current pickup/delivery issue, call the school your child attends. Often, they will have the needed information. If not, your school is best equipped to contact the appropriate Transportation Dept. individual for a quick response.
- Area Superintendents will meet with all principals and ensure that cluster transportation phone numbers are included in their local handbooks and other communications such as newsletters and websites.
I hope you find our plans satisfactory and again, thanks for your input and help.
Regards,
Phil Duffy
Linda Anderson/Area Superintendents Office/GCPS 01/28/2008 08:51 AM
Phil Duffy/Facilities and Operations/GCPS@gcps cindy.loe@gwinnett.k12.ga.us Transportation Communication
Good Morning Phil,
Dr. Loe asked that I get beck to you regarding your communication with Mr. Weingarten. I understand that you will be contacting him to communicate how we will increase communication to parents in the future regarding their ability to contract transportation to address concerns. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks so much for partnering with our division to provide a higher level of communications for parents as we continuously improve our processes!
Linda
- The following two paragraphs included in the 2008-09 Student Handbooks:
- For routine transportation questions or information, please contact the Transportation Supervisor for the school your child attends. Their number is available on the GCPS Web Site.
- For immediate help in resolving a current pickup/delivery issue, call the school your child attends. Often, they will have the needed information. If not, your school is best equipped to contact the appropriate Transportation Dept. individual for a quick response.
2. Area Superintendents will meet with all principals and ensure that cluster transportation phone numbers are included in their local handbooks and other communications such as newsletters and websites.
