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Bus Issue Still Vexes Hillsborough School Board

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County School Board continues to try to figure out how to unravel a transportation mess.

The board met Tuesday and, though busing wasn't on its agenda and no parents came to complain, members wanted to send ideas to the superintendent.

"I know we're all tired of talking about it, but I don't think we can let it go," said Carol Kurdell, who asked for a workshop this fall on the topic.

Transportation problems started dogging the district before classes resumed last month. The district is in the second year of overhauling its busing system to make it more efficient and has moved or eliminated bus stops, changed routes and canceled some after-school transportation.

Parents have flooded the district with e-mail and phone calls, complaining about the changes and their frustration over a lack of communication.

The board brought up suggestions including incentives for recruiting drivers, changing bell times if buses regularly run late and charging fees for families who want transportation but don't qualify. They also suggested reorganizing divisions to move transportation out from under Information and Technology Services to give it a more direct pipeline to the superintendent.

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said the board's input was useful to help her look at the situation in different ways.

The heart of the issue, several board members said, is customer service.

Member Candy Olson said the district should make customer service as much of a priority as student achievement. The district needs training, Olson said, possibly from local companies, on how to deal with its customers, whether it is on transportation or other issues.

"When parents feel respected and trusted, they're more likely to work with us and trust us," she said.

She hoped the workshop could come at a time when parents could attend, listen to the discussion and offer solutions.

In other business, the board singled out Bevis Elementary for its students' high attendance rates and academic achievement that drew national attention.

Bevis was the only public school in Hillsborough County to receive the Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education. Only 16 Florida schools were named 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools, including the private Hillel School in north Tampa. The honor is based on academic achievement.

Bevis also was among 47 Hillsborough schools the district recognized Tuesday for high attendance during the 2007-08 school year. The board awarded flags and streamers to the schools. Bevis topped all of them with an annual average attendance of 97.36 percent.

Williams Middle Magnet and Hillsborough High had the highest averages for middle and high schools at 96.5 percent and 96.07 percent, respectively.

The board approved the district's five-year work plan, a state requirement. The plan includes $176 million in new construction, renovation and remodeling and nearly $284.5 million in maintenance and major repairs from this school year to 2012-13 vex.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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