Comments on: MDUSD to hold community meeting regarding Bay Point master plan

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:10:21 +0000

FYI, I have uploaded some video clips from the Bay Point meeting to my YouTube account: http://www.youtube.com/user/TunedToTheresa
I will try to do a blog post with links later, including video from my Qik account: http://qik.com/tharrington
The Qik recordings were made first, followed by the YouTube recordings.

By: g

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:55 +0000

Sorry, I don’t think the district can just sell them. Certainly not for what we paid.

At least 19 of them were bought out of Ohio on credit. If I understand correctly, we borrowed enough money to pay cash for the 19 buses, but, we didn’t pay cash for them.

Instead, we put the cash into the bank, and will take seven years to pay off the loan PLUS INTEREST, and pay off the buses PLUS INTEREST. Un-huh.

Then, the other 10 purchased out of Sacramento, I’ll say, supposedly–I don’t know if anyone has actually seen them–where is the actual purchase contract? ) just a few months ago was done with a $1.7 million dollar BAAQMD Grant. BAAQMD may want to go check out the parking lot. We don’t want to have to pay that grant back like we’ve had to on SIG etc. where we wasted the opportunity.

By: Hell Freezing Over

Hell Freezing Over — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:50:25 +0000

So, what will the district do with all those brand new buses?

What does the district use the new buses (and for that matter the old buses) now?

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:32:57 +0000

The district could try to sell them. Apparently there is a market for used buses.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:30:32 +0000

What’s going to happen with all of those new buses just purchased ? Mothball fleet in Suisun Bay ?

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:26:37 +0000

It’s possible the district may propose increasing the cost to parents.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:24:01 +0000

How will Lawrence deal with MDUSD Administrative Regulation 3541: Routes and Bus Stops
The Superintendent or designee shall design transportation routes and stops to promote the safety of students and maximum efficiency in the use of buses.
Students who reside beyond the minimum transportation distances listed below shall be eligible for transportation service to the school of their attendance area:
1. For elementary school students:
Grades K-5: 1 1/4 miles
2. For students attending a middle school:
Grades 6-8: 3 miles
3. For students attending a four-year high school:
Grades 9-12: 7 miles

With all three elementary schools tightly congregated, the radius is pretty small.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:16:48 +0000

I received an email from Bryan Richards at 2:53 p.m. Tuesday with a copy of his budget Powerpoint from the Feb. 27 meeting and an assurance that it would be posted on the district’s website “shortly.”
Transportation cuts are referenced on pages 4, 5 and 8, with the final note: “District is looking at boundary and route adjustments to try to control transportation costs as funding declines and fuel costs are rising”: http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/b7dd15f1-70da-4f03-927d-a5108a744da3.pdf
However, this Powerpoint, posted more than a week after the meeting, was presented for information only. Trustees have not voted on transportation cuts.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:12:58 +0000

@ G#100: “Grandpa Jack” ? You are referring to the “Don” of the Schreder family, are you ?

By: g

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:04:45 +0000

Somehow, Dr. J, I suspect talk will get around to discussing the luxury of having a new middle school in their very own back yard…. Can we expect some updated and hopefully correct (this time) demographic numbers and maps from Grampa Jack?