School Buses a Disgrace

[Pissed Parent]

Ok there is a major problem with the new Bus company running Riverside Unified Schools disticts

The Bus company http://www.ridesta.com/ Student Transportaion of America won a massive contract bid, but have been doing an atrocious job. The buses are late, going on the wrong routes, doubling up the kids (I am sure there is safety violations here) no ac, the kids are dripping with sweat when they get off the bus and some days these idiots are not even turning up to take our kids to school or return them.
Riverside Unified School district is telling us to bare with it for a few weeks.

STA are giving us the run around, yes I have spoke to their corporate offices, they treat us with corporate contempt, of course they do, they already got their $37million contract.

Does anyone know what steps can be taken to get this problem fixed??

My kid was dumped off the bus yesterday with what was very close to heat exhaustion, she was burning up and it took me a while to get her back to normal.

Do I have a cause to sue someone, and get this charade stopped before another kid is hurt or even dies from this negligence?

Please constructive comments only, there's plenty of us parents getting really tired and angry with all of this worry every day.

[JAMES R FISHER III]

MY NAME IS JIM FISHER I'AM CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WITH
STA STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA AND I WOULD LIKE TOO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS / CONCERNS THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE , I'AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, A NJ NOTARY PUBLIC, A NJ DRIVING INSTRUCTOR AND I DROVE TRACTOR TRAILERS 4 16 YEARS B-4 I STARTED DRIVING A SCHOOL BUS EIGHT YEARS AGO.
FIRST SCHOOL BUSES DO NOT! HAVE TO BE AIR-CONDITIONED UNLESS THE CONTRACT REQUIRES IT TO BE AND THAT IS USUALLY FOR SPECIAL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WITH HEALTH / BEHAVIOR PROBLEM AND THESE CHILDEN USUALLY GO TOO SPPECIAL / PRIVATE SCHOOL THEY ARE NOT PUT IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS BECAUSE OF THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS. SECOND STA RUNS A TIGHT SHIP I KNOW FIRST HAND I HAVE WORKED IN THE OFFICE AT THE LAST COMPANY I WORKED FOR THAT IS A VERY HIGH PRESSURE JOB, WE HAVE 160 BUSES AT OUR DEPOT AND 140 DRIVERS AND 100 BUS AIDES PEOPLE GAET SICK, THEY DIE, OR THEY GET HURT YOU KNOW THIS THIS IS THE WAY IT IS IN EVERY PROFESSIN IN THE WORLD BUT MY JOB AS STRESSFULL AS IT IS I LOVE - IT! I HAVE NEVER WORKED 4 A MORE CARING AND COMPASSIONTE BOSS IN MY LIFE THESE 5 WOMEN WHO RUN THE WILLIAMSTOWN NJ DEPOT ARE GREAT AND BETWEEN THE 5 THEY HAVE OVER 200 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THIS INDUSTRY, 37 MILLION DOLLARS IS ALOT OF MONEY , BUT DO NOT FORGET WHAT IT COST TO RUN A SCHOOL BUS COMPANY , HIGHER LEVELS OF LIABILITY INS PER EACH STUDENT TRANSPORTED!, reg 300.00 big buses a year 100.00 mini-buses each year 2.45 per gallon diesel fuel most big buses hold 50-75 gallons small buses 25-33 gallons , and you are dealing with humans and it is hard to get good help and keep it! i myself do not ever take off i'am dedicated to my boss's Vice-President, and the Division Manager, Head Dispatcher, bookeeper, Driver Record keep-up Manager, P L E A S E B E P A T I E N T !! it will all come together i can guarantee that knowing how (STA) functions they do not tolerate screw-ups My Immediate Boss the woman who hired me and can at anytime fire me is such a wonderful person if you do your job you will never have a problem with Mrs DeSantis, but if you screw -up look out she will rip you a new one.
SOOOOOOOOO again be patient it will all work-out and come together and yourself and every other parent will be more than pleased with STA's Transportations Service's, Thank-You
James r.Fisher,3rd.
BUS# 3171

[JAMES R FISHER 3RD]

03/09/07
DEAR CITIZENS OF RIVERSIDE CA,
I WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU IN PLAIN ENGLISH SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND HOW A SCHOOL BUS CORPORATION FUNCTIONS!
1. I PERSONALLY WORK / DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS FOR STA STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA OUT OF WILLIAMSTOWN NJ.
2. IT TAKES VERY SPECIAL AS WELL AS TOLERANT PEOPLE TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS AND TO BE AN BUS AIDE/MONITOR
WHICH-EVER U PREFER TO SAY!
3. SCHOOL BUSES ARE NOT NOT !! REQUIRED TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONING UNLESS IT IS REQUESTED ON THE BID SHEET AND STATED AS WE'LL AND IT IS USUALLY IN THE MINI-VANS BUSES FOR OUR HANDICAPPED-SPECIAL MEDICAL
NEEDY STUDEN'T ONLY!
4. 37 MILLION DOLLARS, YES IT IS ALOT OF MONEY I WISH I HAD 500.000.00 DOLLARS ANYWAY YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT COSTS TOO OPERATE AND RUN SCHOOLL BUSES ON A 5 DAY A WEEK BASIS
5. THERE ARE NUMEROUS BREAK-DOWNS, DRIVERS CALL-OUT SICK BY THE WAY IT IS REALLY HARD 2 GET GOOD HELP THESE DAYS!, DRIVERS & AIDES INCLUDED I PERSONALLY
AM VERY DEDICATED TO MY BOSS'S AND STA IN WILLIAMSTOWN NJ I TAKE THIS JOB ONE (1) DAY @ A TIME AND THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW WE ALL GET THROUGH THIS VERY VERY HIGH PRESSURE JOB!
6. PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT A DRIVER IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
A. PICKING-UP & DROPPING -OFF YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN
B. THE SAFETY OF ALL 54 KIDS ON THE BUS SOME STATES ALLOW 91 & SOME ALLOW 71 BUT NJ ONLY ALLOWS 54 THANK - YOU GOD!!
C. TO GET EVERBODY ON SCHOOL AND NOT TO BE LATE
D. THE DRIVER AND BUS AIDE SHOULD BOTH KNOW THE BUS ROUTE IN CASE OF AN ABSENT DRIVER OR AIDE AND THEY SHOULD WORK WE'LL TOGETHER!!
E.THERE R MANY MANY MORE FACTORS KEEPING THE BUS FUEL TANK ABOVE 1/2 TANK IN THE WINTER IS VERY CRUCIAL!!
ANYWAY GIVE OUR COMPANY A LITTLE WHILE TOO WORK-OUT THE RUN AND I'AM POSITIVE YOU WILL BE HAPPY AS WE'LL AS YOUR CHILDREN WITH STA'S BUS SERVICE,
THANK-YOU EVER SOOOOO MUCH FOR LISTENING 2 ME RATTLE-ON.
JAMES R.FISHER,3RD
BUS # 3171
WILLIAMSTOWN NJ BRANCH

[JAMES R FISHER 3RD NJNP]

I'AM AN EMPLOYEE OF (STA)I WORK IN THE WILLIAMSTOWN NJ DIVISION, SO LET'S GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
FIRST OF ALL I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD EVERYTHING AND EVERY EXSCUSE FR A-Z THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH I HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS IS IT IS COMPLETELTLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HIRE DRIVERS ANS FIND AIDES WHO WILL COME TO WORK EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND IT IS HARD TO DO JUST THAT! AND U MENTIONED A 37 MILLIN DOLLAR CONTRACT AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY STA REC'D THAT CHECK SCHOOOL BUS CONTRACTS 8F THEY ARE GIVEN A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IS MAILES OR DEPOSITED DIRECTLY INTO THE COMPANIES ACCT HOW EVE TIS. ALL I KNOW IS I'AM REALY GETTING SICK OF READING ALL OF THIS NEGATIVE WRITINGS, STA IS A VERY WELL ORGANIZED AND OPRERATIONALLY RUN CORPORATION AND I'AM SURE THAT TINGS WILL AUTOMATICALLY STRAIGHTEN IT SELF OUT AUTOMATICALLY U WILL C IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND ALL THRUGH

[Cathi]

Hey Parents -
A piece advice from someone who's dealt with Government Contracting at various levels!
Get your hands a copy of the ACTUAL CONTRACT that the City (or USD or whomever) executed with the Bus Co. If its a public agency THEN THE CONTRACT IS A PUBLIC RECORD AND YOU CAN SEE IT!!! Look thru it and find out what kind of performance standards it sets. Also, if there are any milestones for performance or (better yet) payments. Sometimes (if the agency is SMART - tho few are!!!) They'll have a CLAUSE in the contract stating (for example) that after the first year under the contract, performance will be reviewed and the contract cancelled if performance is not as originally promised.

More commonly, you'll see contracts that are for 3 to 5 years and that have extension clauses for (say) up to 2 MORE years if the agency wants to continue to keep the company.(The companies like this because they can possibly get 2 more years of guaranteed clients without having to go thru bids again. The agency gets to avoid going thru the request for bids process - I've done it - its a huge hassle! Also, from a "Grass Roots" level - you might want to find out 2 things (finbd out WHO at the RUSD is the person responsible for coordinating with the bus co.- SOMEONE at the RUSD is at least cutting the bus co. checks --- believe me, THAT person will truly know "what's what!" Secondly, find out WHO the person AT THE BUS Co. is that is handing the RUSD "account." That is - there may be 1 or more day-to-day managers for the bus co., but there'll be a single higher-level (management or executive type) who oversees the whole "account" with RUSD. Start bugging THAT person. When he/she starts to realize that his/her account could go south, they suddenly get a LOT more helpful! And, btw, THIS executive type person will be the REAL person with ANY power to affect ANY kind of change with the service. The SECOND bit of advice is to find out how the RUSD oversees the contract - Like, WHO approved it? If it was approved by the School Board themselves, then go to their public meetings and during the "public comment period" ask that a NEW AGENDA ITEM be added for the NEXT meeting to discuss "PROBLEMS WITH XXX BUS. CO's SERVICE" (or whatever). This is how you get "on the agenda" with these agencies (necessary cuz of Brown Act and other laws regarding public notice and stuff - very archane.....) Once you have a date on the agenda, contact the local papers, radio (NPR at KVCR perhaps?) etc. etc. Once you start "going public" in this mannor, THEN things will start to get done.(And, it's an election year, right? That helps!!!) WIshing you good luck in "fighting the system"!

[california native]

The old saying you get what you pay for. Sorry but the way I hear it alot of School Districts charge for bussing now..

[victor marmol]

HI MY NAME IS VICTOR. I'M A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FOR 10YEAR. I WANT TO OPEN SMALL SCHOOL BUS COMPANY. CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME. [e-mail]

[Robrien]

I drive as well but for another company.. Your drivers come into the schools with cell phones in there ear.. How can we also get them to shut down their buses after 15 mins. You can not talk to them.. Not very nice people to deal with..

[Cherie]

Discusted to witness today an sta bus 3353... Speeding swerving in n out of trafic... Driving in the left lane tailgating! Many cars tried to get this man's attention to slow him n drive right side of road to no avail. On route 42 then the atlantic city expressway about 2 pm today! We r sending video footage... Outragious behavior!

[Bus aid]

I work for another school bus service & I ALWAYS see these STA buses in the Williamstown / Monroe township area on the road between 3:00 & 4:00 pm.
There are always children standing up on the buses while they're moving. Children are clearly not wearing the seatbelts on the bus. EVERYONE on my bus wears a seatbelt because i make sure they have them on.
Why don't the aids on these STA buses make sure every child has a belt on?

[Richie]

Been driveng a bus for years. I did even drive for STA once. Never ever heard of a school bus in the north east with air conditioning. If you have a complaint then go to a school board meeting and ask them to fund it. They don't care. No one goes to them anyway. Most school districts fill buses at least 2 to a seat in HS some more. So stop complaining You can drive the kid yourself,

[Bus aid]

Richie wrote:

Been driveng a bus for years. I did even drive for STA once. Never ever heard of a school bus in the north east with air conditioning. If you have a complaint then go to a school board meeting and ask them to fund it. They don't care. No one goes to them anyway. Most school districts fill buses at least 2 to a seat in HS some more. So stop complaining You can drive the kid yourself,

Some buses have air conditioning in the North East. I know Holcomb bus service has air conditioned buses.

[school bus driver]

Ive been a very good driver for 20yrs but STA wouldn't hire me off hear say of other drivers but they rehired an alcoholic driver even after she quit them and let a pet driver take their kid on the bus on route at age 10 come on they don't have any other choice that's a lie do all the driver's get to do it to not to mentiondriver's leaving those buses running while unloading wheelchairs emissions law? they should follow their driver's emissions law and heating and cooling provisions lawd are being brokencheck it out

[school bus driver]

Why dont they do something about tje appearance and hygiene of some of their drivers i had a friend tell me about a driver who had a big child of thiet own on route bulling the kids wow fellow driver's telling on fellow drivers not to mention the very ones grouping to keep othets from employment padding time milking clock but thats who they like to hire lol sta id being milked by professional time padders

[fellow driver]

Ooh i know who the driver is with bully kid on bus she took her bad bulling on first student bus to christy caubet shes lies to comp saying theres no one that can watch her it's just she gets out of school early on weds and allways has to go out and to movies every weds if mom has to go home for her they wont jave enough time and not to mention she's one who milks pads her time to get payed more than she should anf all the ones she clicks with well first student sta should talk to me i can tell tje about a lot of thinhs they could dave company money