Here come the MV Bus costs

[doctorwho]

Okay, remember how not too long ago we heard about how the bus costs were not going to be affected by screwing over 3-4 areas with the longest commute they could get ? Remember how the double runs were just fine - don't worry about it - same for activitiy buses ? Likely have a one year reprieve based on this - then it will be ' we can't afford it '

Well heads up Watts / Cowlishaw / Owen West and others - suddenly those costs may be a concern. What a shocker eh ? Watch those commute times with no double buses.

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/naper....4BRD_S1.article

D204 to focus on lunches

November 11, 2008
By TIM WALDORF [e-mail]

First food, then wheels.

That's the plan in Indian Prairie School District 204 - bid food services this year and busing services next.

David Holm, District 204's assistant superintendent for business, said the district considered putting both service contracts out to bid this year, but decided against it.

"Not only is the bidding process demanding," he said, "but if we bid both of them out at the same time, there's potential here to have completely new contractors for both, and that is so much change all at the same time."

So, for a number of reasons, the district decided it should focus its attention on its food service program this year.

Due to increased costs, this program, which is intended to be self-sufficient, actually ran a $546,000 deficit last year. That is why administrators and consultants are recommending that the district join the National School Lunch Program. When its contract with Sodexho expires this year, the district will approve a new deal with a vendor that calls for meals to meet state and federal nutrition guidelines so that additional revenue will be sent District 204's way.

That will mean students will no longer be able to purchase just "junk food." Some fruits and vegetables will have to be included in their purchases.

"It will be a good thing for the students because the part that they will have to pick up will be good for them," said Terry Burgess of the Portland Group, consultants hired by the district to review the efficiency of its food service program.

Last year, the average meal in District 204 cost $2.70 to make and serve. Under the National School Lunch program, in which 99 percent of all public schools participate, the district would be reimbursed for 37.5 cents of each of those meals and for the entire cost free meals provided to low-income students. If the district can increase participation in its lunch programs to 60 percent, these reimbursements from the federal government could climb up to $800,000.

Right now, though, just 37 percent of the district's elementary students and 49 percent of its secondary students purchase their lunches from the program. The rest "brown bag" it.

The buses
The opening of new schools and the new bus routes that will need to be determined is another reason to postpone the bidding of a new bus service contract, school officials said.
"Next year, we're opening up Metea Valley High School, and we're opening up Fischer Middle School," Holm said. "And the complexity of that requires a lot more from us on the bid. So it is actually better for us to have that extra year to bid on it."
Consequently, District 204 will simply extend its current contract for transportation services with First Student by a year. The terms of this deal will increase the cost of the contract by 3.6 percent.

This contract extension increases that fuel costs cap to $2.25, which, noted Holm, would have cost District 204 an extra $75,000 last year.

[concerned2]

I just love that they claim to not want too many changes at one time. I believe they have been dealing with multiple changes since we obtained our new super.

The voters gave this SB a blankcheck with this new HS and they are taking the taxpayers for a ride. I am sure they will have a tough sell on the next ref with the economoy, declining homes sales, and enrollment numbers declining.

[overtaxed]

Nov 11, 2008 14:38:31 GMT -6 sam2 said:

I have been critical of the school board for some time, and lately had begun to think,perhaps, I'm too critical ---and then this....it is impossible to underestimate their collective competence.

It completely undersuts any assurance they offered about bussing costs related to Matea.

More important, what kind of staff do we have that cannot handle bidding bussing and lunch at the same time? I'm sorry, but that is among the lamest excuses I've ever heard for not attempting to manage expenses...Once the bids are prepared -- or updated from the last time -- how hard would it be to mail them? If the numbers weren't attractive, then a decision might be made to hold off on simultaneous changes, but to simply not put them out for bid because it's too hard.....It's mind boggling.

If this kind of argument was made in my company, the staff involved would never live it down. Of course, we have to be competitive and we have to earn our revenue, we can't just raise our prices like taxes....

I

Wow, our SB is amazing, they are always doing something that amazes me. I would of thought they would run out of new tricks.

Hellooooooooooooo SB that money that you are p!ssing away is mine and everyone elses hard earn money. If you can't do your job, leave!!!

This is why we need all new blood at the SB. When the time comes everyone needs to find out all about the new candidates and vote for the ones who have the best interest for the whole 204 and some kind of show for the south side of town.

ugh.....................................................................................when will this end

[doctorwho]

Nov 11, 2008 14:38:31 GMT -6 sam2 said:

I have been critical of the school board for some time, and lately had begun to think,perhaps, I'm too critical ---and then this....it is impossible to underestimate their collective competence.

It completely undersuts any assurance they offered about bussing costs related to Matea.

More important, what kind of staff do we have that cannot handle bidding bussing and lunch at the same time? I'm sorry, but that is among the lamest excuses I've ever heard for not attempting to manage expenses...Once the bids are prepared -- or updated from the last time -- how hard would it be to mail them? If the numbers weren't attractive, then a decision might be made to hold off on simultaneous changes, but to simply not put them out for bid because it's too hard.....It's mind boggling.

If this kind of argument was made in my company, the staff involved would never live it down. Of course, we have to be competitive and we have to earn our revenue, we can't just raise our prices like taxes....

I

Never underestimate what we will be told to 'sell' something - and when we yell "BULL" - some protest -- yet when it all comes out, it's exactly as we thought.............

our tax money continues to flow......out

[doctorwho]

Nov 11, 2008 15:33:04 GMT -6 overtaxed said:

Nov 11, 2008 14:38:31 GMT -6 sam2 said:

I have been critical of the school board for some time, and lately had begun to think,perhaps, I'm too critical ---and then this....it is impossible to underestimate their collective competence.

It completely undersuts any assurance they offered about bussing costs related to Matea.

More important, what kind of staff do we have that cannot handle bidding bussing and lunch at the same time? I'm sorry, but that is among the lamest excuses I've ever heard for not attempting to manage expenses...Once the bids are prepared -- or updated from the last time -- how hard would it be to mail them? If the numbers weren't attractive, then a decision might be made to hold off on simultaneous changes, but to simply not put them out for bid because it's too hard.....It's mind boggling.

If this kind of argument was made in my company, the staff involved would never live it down. Of course, we have to be competitive and we have to earn our revenue, we can't just raise our prices like taxes....

I

Wow, our SB is amazing, they are always doing something that amazes me. I would of thought they would run out of new tricks.

Hellooooooooooooo SB that money that you are p!ssing away is mine and everyone elses hard earn money. If you can't do your job, leave!!!

This is why we need all new blood at the SB. When the time comes everyone needs to find out all about the new candidates and vote for the ones who have the best interest for the whole 204 and some kind of show for the south side of town.

ugh.....................................................................................when will this end

ugh.....................................................................................when will this end


it will take at least 2 elections and one failed referendum.....then the new team will be left to try and sort out the mess of: more HS space than we need / one HS only near 15% or so of the population / 20 years of bond payments on a declining base / transportation costs rising due to idiotic boundaries / entire areas of the community shut out of representation / enough hurt feelings to fill the Stadium./ former community leaders and school volunteers who have distanced themselves from those roles now... and God knows what else.

oh yeah, how's the sale of our 25 acres going ?

[steckdad]

Nov 11, 2008 10:25:17 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Okay, remember how not too long ago we heard about how the bus costs were not going to be affected by screwing over 3-4 areas with the longest commute they could get ? Remember how the double runs were just fine - don't worry about it - same for activitiy buses ? Likely have a one year reprieve based on this - then it will be ' we can't afford it '

Well heads up Watts / Cowlishaw / Owen West and others - suddenly those costs may be a concern. What a shocker eh ? Watch those commute times with no double buses.

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/naper....4BRD_S1.article

D204 to focus on lunches

November 11, 2008
By TIM WALDORF [e-mail]

First food, then wheels.

That's the plan in Indian Prairie School District 204 - bid food services this year and busing services next.

David Holm, District 204's assistant superintendent for business, said the district considered putting both service contracts out to bid this year, but decided against it.

"Not only is the bidding process demanding," he said, "but if we bid both of them out at the same time, there's potential here to have completely new contractors for both, and that is so much change all at the same time."

So, for a number of reasons, the district decided it should focus its attention on its food service program this year.

Due to increased costs, this program, which is intended to be self-sufficient, actually ran a $546,000 deficit last year. That is why administrators and consultants are recommending that the district join the National School Lunch Program. When its contract with Sodexho expires this year, the district will approve a new deal with a vendor that calls for meals to meet state and federal nutrition guidelines so that additional revenue will be sent District 204's way.

That will mean students will no longer be able to purchase just "junk food." Some fruits and vegetables will have to be included in their purchases.

"It will be a good thing for the students because the part that they will have to pick up will be good for them," said Terry Burgess of the Portland Group, consultants hired by the district to review the efficiency of its food service program.

Last year, the average meal in District 204 cost $2.70 to make and serve. Under the National School Lunch program, in which 99 percent of all public schools participate, the district would be reimbursed for 37.5 cents of each of those meals and for the entire cost free meals provided to low-income students. If the district can increase participation in its lunch programs to 60 percent, these reimbursements from the federal government could climb up to $800,000.

Right now, though, just 37 percent of the district's elementary students and 49 percent of its secondary students purchase their lunches from the program. The rest "brown bag" it.

The buses
The opening of new schools and the new bus routes that will need to be determined is another reason to postpone the bidding of a new bus service contract, school officials said.
"Next year, we're opening up Metea Valley High School, and we're opening up Fischer Middle School," Holm said. "And the complexity of that requires a lot more from us on the bid. So it is actually better for us to have that extra year to bid on it."
Consequently, District 204 will simply extend its current contract for transportation services with First Student by a year. The terms of this deal will increase the cost of the contract by 3.6 percent.

This contract extension increases that fuel costs cap to $2.25, which, noted Holm, would have cost District 204 an extra $75,000 last year.

even if the bus services needed were the same, the cost would go up based on first student's costs?

[Arch]

With a third school, there was an opportunity to make the distances all go down from what it was with two schools.

I would like to see the existing bus mile versus the new bus miles.

If the new miles are less, then they did what they could to minimize the rising fuel costs that are literally out of our hands. If we don't have less bus miles, then they did not do a proper job.

[southsidesignmaker]

Arch the idea of comparing bus miles makes sense. Do you think there is any way to figure an increase in students taking the bus. Wouldn't costs go up if ridership went up, hence a need for more buses. If the economy continues to decline it seems students may take buses over personal transportation.

I am very aware of the concern with regard to neighborhoods going up to 7 miles to their designated high school and am not arguing the point.

[Arch]

Nov 11, 2008 21:05:33 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Arch the idea of comparing bus miles makes sense. Do you think there is any way to figure an increase in students taking the bus. Wouldn't costs go up if ridership went up, hence a need for more buses. If the economy continues to decline it seems students may take buses over personal transportation.

I am very aware of the concern with regard to neighborhoods going up to 7 miles to their designated high school and am not arguing the point.

You're assuming there is no current room on the buses. Trust me, there are plenty of empty seats.... and the SB's plan is to make the current ones with empty seats be half-full again with double busing from some areas.

[Arch]

Here's one specifically I would like to see the bus miles for:


Double buses from MW/CAWL area to MV, plus the existing bus service from Steck/McCart. areas to WV
(Current plan)

Versus

Steck/McCart. areas to MV and single bus service from CAWL/MW area to WV (with MW/CAWL Sat. locations still going to MV because they are *much* closer)
(Hypothetical tweak)

Both scenarios lose their existing GOLD bus service regardless.

----

If we break up the district into the 'areas' that they are, then ensuring no area goes to the furthest school should get you closer to optimal than a plan that involves sending multiple areas the furthest pick possible to a school (and doubling the buses to do it in a 'reasonable average time').

[southsidesignmaker]

Arch I try not to assume things (especially when asking you a question). I did not realize that buses were going thru routes unfilled.

If this is the case, why not decrease the number of stops (saving buses from stopping and starting) , have the high schoolers walk a block or two extra. This should eliminate extra stops, have more kids at less stops and get the buses at full capacity.

[Arch]

Nov 12, 2008 8:43:47 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Arch I try not to assume things (especially when asking you a question). I did not realize that buses were going thru routes unfilled.

If this is the case, why not decrease the number of stops (saving buses from stopping and starting) , have the high schoolers walk a block or two extra. This should eliminate extra stops, have more kids at less stops and get the buses at full capacity.

Then, the 'promised times' can't all be met that way and during the winter you have lots of slip/fall issues because most people don't clear the ice out of the way that early in the morning. Each kid to load still takes N number of seconds; which is the majority of the time spent at a stop.. not the actual acceleration/deceleration which lasts but a few seconds.

Again, the easier way is to optimize the areas with their assignments to the schools. Then it's right from the word 'go'.

[d204mom]

Huh.

I'm wondering if "it's too hard" is an easier excuse for now instead of "oops the boundaries might change so we don't want to bid the routes too early."

I thought they got a comprehensive bid before they approved the Metea location & boundaries? They only changed Owen East - how much different could it be now?

How could they have gotten those time estimates from each elemantary school area without a comprehensive bid?

[Arch]

Nov 12, 2008 9:26:17 GMT -6 d204mom said:

Huh.

I'm wondering if "it's too hard" is an easier excuse for now instead of "oops the boundaries might change so we don't want to bid the routes too early."

I thought they got a comprehensive bid before they approved the Metea location & boundaries? They only changed Owen East - how much different could it be now?

?

Everything's always in play until Summer of 09 when they are finalized based on registration.

[doctorwho]

Nov 12, 2008 9:26:17 GMT -6 d204mom said:

Huh.

I'm wondering if "it's too hard" is an easier excuse for now instead of "oops the boundaries might change so we don't want to bid the routes too early."

I thought they got a comprehensive bid before they approved the Metea location & boundaries? They only changed Owen East - how much different could it be now?

How could they have gotten those time estimates from each elemantary school area without a comprehensive bid?

they don't want to go near the boundaries at any cost - which is why they will put portables @ Young rather than tweak boundaries. If they open it up they might have to admit they are faulty ona number of points.
Wouldn't want that to happen- and risk upsetting any of their buds