Detailed SAFBG Response to PAUSD Denial

Detailed SAFBG Response to PAUSD Denial

What SAFBG is asking for:

We request a slight modification of the existing fee bus route "J", an alteration in the order of stops, which makes the service more efficient.

Specific Responses:

"As a rule PAUSD does not transport high school students."

Response: Just as PAUSD regularly transports elementary and middle school students on fee busses, it transports high school students. Five years ago Assoc. Superintendent Robert Golton met with Peggy Esber and Debbie Duncan. Mr. Golton agreed that PAUSD would transport Gunn high school students for two reasons: to bring in added revenue and fulfill the Terman EIR. The District also pays half the cost each year for the Gunn Extension of the Palo Alto Crosstown shuttle.

Early arrival at Nixon, that is 20 rather than 15 minutes before the bell. "Safety" is cited as a concern and the need for taking "all reasonable steps."

Response: We have planned supervision which more than meets the State's requirements. See Supervision and Liability.

"Schedule feasibility"

Response: We have timed the route in the rain. The 7:50 scheduled arrival allows reasonable travel time to Gunn and time to get to class before the 7:55 bell. The District's bus schedule for the Y, 7:40-7:50 a.m., ten minutes for the Terman to Nixon trip (longer than Nixon to Gunn), corroborates the travel time. The between-class time allowed for walking from one side of the Gunn campus to another is five minutes.

"District-wide equity." There are 3 points:

Shortening ride time for elementary students -

Response: Shortening an existing long ride for young students is an unquestionable boon. The charge that others might take a cue from this can be made against any positive improvement; it suggests that status quo is always better than any improvement.

Supervision before school for elementary students -

Response: Supervision before school already has elementary school precedents at both Duveneck and Palo Verde. Precedent is not being set. (See Supervision and Liability.)

Transportation to Paly and Gunn -

Response: Paly is not a part of the fee bus system, which has been in existence for more than ten years. The three fee busses now carry high school students from LAH and Stanford West to Gunn. The real inequity is that Stanford campus students have no morning service.

Labor laws and employee relations. The concern is that using "volunteer teachers and parents" will lead to "grievances and incurred costs."

Response: Volunteer parents are used throughout the District every day to supervise students. Yard duty at Nixon is one example. Teachers do not have to volunteer; they can be paid a stipend for their time as they commonly are for work beyond their contract, e.g., for Site Council.

There could be "unreimbursable costs."

Response: Board Policy for Transportation states that the fees from fee busses must cover that portion of costs which is not reimbursed by the State. Each year the State reimburses PAUSD over $350K for Home to School Bussing, funds separate from Special Ed. and Voluntary Transfer. New fees from Stanford campus high school students would definitely offset one hour per week for a teacher; one high school student's fees would pay more than twice the yearly cost for an aide. (See Finances.)