Opening Day

[Thomas Jennings Jr.]

Mr. Boyce oversees it for the FRHSD.

Just remember....in some way you're paying for all that used paper....

And if everybody did it it would further exacerbate the budgetary problems.

There is no need to be harassing and call every fifteen minutes - give a call and I'm sure they will address you professionally and give you a call back in a timely manner to address the problem.

Some of the first few days they extend homerooms anyways to give out lockers, hand out important papers, and make sure everyone is getting in to school before class starts.

[Pat Garaffa]

100 sheets of their paper = $ .50 to their bottom line.

Gas required to drive my daughter to school 2 times = $2.50 to me.

I'm spending 5 times what they are and I am being inconvenienced.  Not to mention that I am paying for a bus that has only arrived once out of three attempts. 

I will happily reimburse them if they solve my problem and provide a bus.  And that resolution starts with their return phone call. 

I called early Wednesday and again in the afternoon.  No reply.  I'll give them until Monday.  But then that's another ride I have to provide due to the missing bus.  And if no call back by Monday?  Let the faxing begin!   

School is closed for the next couple of days.  Why didn't they offer to keep a few folks on staff to iron out all the problems? 

[MaryBeth_OBrien]

Tom I called 2 TWO weeks ago and until yesterday and I made the threat to call every 15 minutes...NO ONE called back. I have an out of districtrict placement child (special needs) and  2 busses showed up to pick him up on his first day. I needed to know what bus to send him on since I got TWO bus passes and got no return calls. also, his school is open today and tomorrow and since I sent him on a FRHSD bus I needed to know if they were working Thursday and Friday since the district was closed. I'm thinking that after waiting 2 weeks I needed answers by the end of the day yesterday. My way worked and I got my answers and the bus driver herself called us last night. Squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Thank you to the people in the BA's office who saw to it that a human being spoke to me 

[Jody_Branin]

The fax machine will think you sent a 1000 page fax and will loop and run until their paper is exhausted.  And with any luck, it will continue to run after their paper runs out and fill their fax machine’s memory to capacity.  They’ll add more paper and the faxes will continue even after the paper has been replenished.  (Unless they are smart enough to know how to reset/turn off the machine.)     

Pat that's awful!  I hope you didn't do it!  You know me, I don't like waste and that's an obnoxious way to waste paper - save the trees dear.

First week of school I'm sure they are overwhelmed with calls, etc.  They will probably get back to you in a couple of days - give them time to catch up.  I've had very good response to the email system.  http://www.frhsd.com/district/index.php?q=contact

Type it up, copy/paste it into a word document for yourself and date it so you have a track record.  I've never had to email a 2nd time.

I emailed Howell Township Board of Ed and requested it be forwarded to Transportation.   It was after School on Friday and Monday was a Holiday - I got a return call Wednesday and the person I spoke with was an absolute joy - we were both laughing by the time we hung up.

My son was forgotten a couple of times in the beginning of the year.  We are one of the furthest stops from Freehold Township HS.    Once, a stubstitute driver got into a traffic jam and was running late so he turned around and took the bus back to school even though the students on board were telling him there was another stop or two.  I guess he didn't want to be late for his next run so he just left the rest.  It only happened once so I didn't call but yeah, I was miffed.  Thankfully I hadn't left for work yet and was able to drive my son to school. 

[Pat Garaffa]

Day 4 - no bus and no returned phone call.  My daughter is now walking around the block to get on another bus.  And no one challenged her either so that should be a problem too. 

I just left another message.  Any bets on when/if I ever receive a reply? 

[Jody_Branin]

Did you try the email link I gave you in my previous post?  Try it!

[Pat Garaffa]

Yes I did but no reply yet.  Just tried again today (7:10 am) and I got their voice mail again. 

Warming up the fax.......

[James_Mazetta]

Call me old fashion Pat but if you have a problem then why not just go there and actually speak to someone. It is worth a shot.

[Pat Garaffa]

Jim,

I agree.  But I thought "old fashioned" meant picking up the phone vs texting, emailing or leaving messages on the BOE Facebook page. 

And if I get in the car and go "there" - where is it? 

I got a phone response today to the email link that was provided by Jody.  But I missed the call and I hope to connect Wednesday.  I guess they don’t like voice mail and much prefer the email instead.  Not a problem because the faxing was going to start Wednesday.  I'm confident this will be ironed out soon. 

The funny part is I am confident that the bus driver is reading my suggestions on streamlining these routes.  I commented that the busses should be off the side streets and moved to the main roads only.  Apparently, she likes my idea because that is exactly where the bus went!  LOL!

No worries.  A little exercise won't hurt the princess.  And I don't mind the current arraignment at all.  I just wish I knew there was going to be a change.   

[Pat Garaffa]

Finally got the call!  I told her about the MIA bus.  She called the bus company and they said the bus was here everyday at 6:50.  Not so. 

I'm convinced that the bus actually is coming much earlier so Thursday will be an earlier day for sure.

We had a driver do this a few times in the past.  Maybe they have another agenda after thie morning drive?  And if so, they show up a little earlier each day until the kids are arriving at school 30-45 minutes before the bell. 

[Pat Garaffa]

I sat on the porch from 6:40 to 7:10 AM for the 6:50 bus.  No bus and another ride to school. 

Maybe it's one of those "Cloaked" busses like in Star Trek?  I guess I need special glasses to see it? 

Another call to transportation and another and another non-response.  This is really gettig old. 

[Ray_Spengler]

I sat on the porch from 6:40 to 7:10 AM for the 6:50 bus.  No bus and another ride to school. 

Maybe it's one of those "Cloaked" busses like in Star Trek?  I guess I need special glasses to see it? 

Another call to transportation and another and another non-response.  This is really gettig old. 

What's the word on this Mr. Garaffa?  Start tracking mileage and charge the district....

[Laura_Kurtz]

All I can say is I feel for everyone having bus issues this year.  It is such a pleasure this year to have a bus that arrives every morning at the same time (give or take a couple of min's.) and not be on the phone with Transportation constantly, though Nancy Clark is very nice!   

Wishing you luck, especially Pat, to get your bus issues solved quickly!

Have a great night everyone!

[Pat Garaffa]

Still no bus.  

How about it Jamie?  It's day number 13 and still no solution.  Is this still a hiccup? 

We actually found the correct bus on another block.  The bus driver told her "it was easier for him if she would walk over there each morning".  Of course it's easier for him - he doesn't have to do his job!  

Although I agree that it would be easier for him, and it's not a far walk at all, it makes it difficult for us in bad weather.  If the stop was scheduled (we still have the card), and he drives down the street anyway, then what's the problem if he has to stop the damn bus as he turns the corner?   Why is the driver allowed to change the rules or the route? 

More calls and emails to the transportation department earlier this week have gone unanswered.  I received responses last week to only the emails but nothing this week.  

I'm calling the supervisor today.  I wonder if he works on Fridays?  

[James_Obrien]

Still no bus.  

How about it Jamie?  It's day number 13 and still no solution.  Is this still a hiccup? 

We actually found the correct bus on another block.  The bus driver told her "it was easier for him if she would walk over there each morning".  Of course it's easier for him - he doesn't have to do his job!  

Although I agree that it would be easier for him, and it's not a far walk at all, it makes it difficult for us in bad weather.  If the stop was scheduled (we still have the card), and he drives down the street anyway, then what's the problem if he has to stop the damn bus as he turns the corner?   Why is the driver allowed to change the rules or the route? 

More calls and emails to the transportation department earlier this week have gone unanswered.  I received responses last week to only the emails but nothing this week.  

I'm calling the supervisor today.  I wonder if he works on Fridays?  

I don't know Pat. I only have one side of the story.

MB called transportation could not get through. Called the BA and the problem was corrected. This happened twice this year.

As for stopping the bus as it turned the corner, I was taught that this was not a good practice because it becomes more difficult  to control traffic. Bus stops should always be in the middle of the block. Yes I know that is not the case in Howell.