So today I went to a board meeting for the Newark Unified School District. It seems, and I may be wrong, that the buck was passed this evening for no further action. I really hope that I am wrong.

Let me provide a bit of context. On Friday, February 8, 2013, my daughter, and of course all other kids that rely on the bus to get home, was left standing out front of the school with no transportation. Of course, I was livid and so I wrote an email to the Alameda County Transit District Board, the Newark City Council, the Board of Education, the Superintendent, the Principal at the Junior High and the local News Source (the Newark Patch). While it was polite, it was nevertheless aggressive in wanting some answers and to avert further incidents. I received and very concerned email from an ACTD Director who promised to make sure this type of situation was avoided in the future. Well, not one week later on, yep, you guessed it, Friday the 15th, they AGAIN, left the kids stranded. I immediately wrote another email somewhat more scathing than the first.

What is wrong with people today?! No accountability, no drive, no pride in effort, at least not in government or sudo government entities.

What did I get after the second email, well, here it is below. I want to believe in these leaders as though I were still in the Corps where leaders, at least most leaders, earned the respect commensurate their rank. Leadership is so woefully lacking in business let alone in government agencies, but I digress. Oh, here's that response:

 

Good afternoon everyone. I would like to add my apology to that of
Director Davis and COO Pachan, and provide a bit of background to the
events of the past week as they pertain to Newark Junior High and our
service.

My investigation of the circumstances that led to last Friday's late
service and yesterday's lack of service points to a breakdown of
communications within AC Transit.

The first instance was caused by incorrect school service information
being provided the Hayward division, which is responsible for service to
Newark Junior (and Memorial) High School. Although we sent a bus to the
school as soon as we learned of the mistake, it was rather late and most
students had already left the school grounds. At that time, District
staff (senior planner for school service, transportation superintendent
and I) researched and discussed the root cause, and confirmed the school
service calendar for the following (this) week. I was frustrated beyond
words upon learning of yesterday's incident - coming so close on the
heels of last week's late service. I can only imagine the frustration
of those most directly affected.

Yesterday's incident was due to division staff, who were in receipt of
correct school service information, failing to note and schedule it in
our automated dispatching system properly. This, in turn, caused that
particular school trip to go unnoticed and remain unfilled. Last
evening I addressed the underlying causes with responsible staff; we are
meeting first thing Tuesday morning with COO Pachan to review and
reinforce our procedures to ensure it does not happen again.

I have also requested that the Hayward division's superintendent
research our service to Newark Junior and Memorial High Schools since
the first of the year. Specifically, I have asked her to provide
information about actual missed trips, and any late service during this
time. Late service can be caused by a variety of issues, and we
understand its consequences on a student's attendance or ability to get
home. Missed trips should be rare, if ever, and due only to
extraordinary circumstances. The District's practice, and policy, is to
accord priority to Transbay trips and school service. As a result, they
should be the last trips cancelled due to a lack of workforce or
equipment.

And as Mr. Pachan previously mentioned, a transportation supervisor will
be assigned to monitor the line serving Newark Junior High Tuesday
through Friday of this coming week. I checked the school's website last
evening to verify that school is not in session Monday, February 18.

The voiced concerns of the students, parents, school staff, the
District's Board of Directors and the Newark School District's Board of
Education are justified and warrant our immediate attention. As I told
Mr. De La Cruz earlier this week, I am a parent whose son used AC
Transit service all through his middle and senior high school years. I
understand your concerns and know firsthand how disruptive it is when
the bus does not arrive as scheduled. I assure you of our commitment to
provide the level of service scheduled for the schools, and I again
apologize for the lapses of the past week.

Sincerely,

Christopher Beach
Acting Director of Transportation

 

Stay tuned, I will be responding with some questions, I just can't sit still while things just sit with no milestones. What's the goal? Either we get perfect service or a District Service of its own; safety, being the ultimate goal.