by Alisha Washington and Rashelle James
On Tuesday, September 23rd, Dr. Crawford Lewis, superintendent of the DeKalb County School System, opened the meeting dealing with the Transportation Efficiency Plan. Lewis described the history behind the busing programs and reasons for the plan.
Robert Moseley, DeKalb’s associate superintendent for administrative services, presented the plan to a crowd of irate parents.
The plan consists of two phases. Phase I, which has already begun, eliminates buses for students attending schools via A. Y.P and summer school. It also consolidates extra activity buses. Phase II, which is in the draft stage, plans to reduce or eliminate out of area bus transportation for magnet, charter, optional transfer paired program, and DECA students.
“Eliminating out of area transportation saves 5.7 million dollars,” said Moseley.
Moseley cites continuing budget cuts, decreased student enrollment, and rising gas prices as the reasons for reducing out of area transportation. The proposed plan excludes transportation for Driver Ed, Warren Tech, STT, and special education programs.
“We should consider alternatives such as advertising on buses as they do in Texas,” said Delicia Grimmesey, a parent affected by the proposed plan.
One hour was devoted to receiving suggestions and comments from concerned parents and students.
The time allotted for each comment was limited to two minutes. Some alternatives that were suggested by parents included using alternative fuels, hub busing, cutting salaries of board member, and reelecting board members.
Prior to the meeting, a student-organized protest took place on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. Students were also active in the meeting stating their comments and concerns as well. A Chamblee magnet student received a standing ovation after her response to the proposed plan.
The most commonly expressed statements among the parents were the diversity that the programs offered. One parent discussed her child’s experience at a Bar Mitzvah of a Jewish friend her child had met through the program, an experience she would not have received if she attended her home school.
“Sending our children back to their home schools would create a separate but unequal school system,” said Sheila Watson, a Chamblee magnet parent.
Originally on October 10, Lewis and the School Board were to have a closed-door session. At that time, they were to discuss how to move forward with various budget cuts.
As of Friday, September 26, the Board released a compromised proposal that will create drop-off hubs for parents of middle and high students. The buses will take the students to the schools, but it will be the responsibility of the parents to get the student to and from the hub.