Dairyland has a very good, long-standing safety record, community loyalty, and also employed responsible students from the New Tribes Bible Institute. Seems like loyalty and good service and responsibility were not even given a second chance to negotiate.

So they didn't go with the lower bid huh?

I assume we will never hear a peep about enough tax money from them.

It is only the lower bid for diesel fuel. 50% will run on propane fuel which was a lower bid than the diesel fuel. When averaged out, the bids are nearly the same. (6.33 + 6.14 / 2 = 6.23) I don't support or oppose the decision, my kids don't take the bus and I don't know that much about it. I just think people need to read carefully and not get excited about the "lower bid" without taking a closer look.

Yes Chrissy---several hundred thousand dollars.
At the same time they are cutting bus service to other kids that now magically went from living in a danger zone to a safe zone.(see Pebble valley)

The fact is a few hundred thousand is a big deal to most people and the School boards budget. Here is ONE area where you chose to spend excess money--I bet there were others. Don't come crying to me asking for more taxes.

If they don't great. However I bet the people living in Pebble Valley could have thought of a good way to spend some of the money that the school board had no issue over-spending on.

Finally if you have ever attended a School board meeting the haggle over much smaller sums of money to make the budget. Perhaps this year they have no cuts to make...anybody want to make a bet?

How is the new technology(GPS/email) going to implemented?At what cost? Where will the busses be garaged?
Will the "new" drivers be from the waukesha area? What about the employees from Dairyland,will they be able/considered for the new positions?How will it effect the pay, if the drivers from Dairyland are hired?

I don't think bus drive ers should get unemployment in the summer as the dairyland drivers were.taxpayers are subsidizing these part time drivers indirectly.

Sounds like First Student did a better job of selling the advantages of thier services versus just worrying about being the low bid. Classic example of the better salesperson wins everytime.

"Waukesha School Board members unanimously approved a contract with First Student based on its technological advances that were not proposed by Dairyland Bus."

Most New Tribes should not be driving school buses. It is like high school kids driving school buses.

The school board has done the citizens of Waukesha a great disservice by not awarding the contract to Dairyland Bus Company. Dairyland has provided our children with safe bus service for over 30 years. When the school board put the contract out for bid they should have given a clear scope as to what they wanted from their bus provider. If they want GPS units installed and Propane buses used then they should state this in the scope of the bid. I also find it amazing that at the school board meeting last night a represenative from Dairland Bus stated that they would provide bus service to the students that otherwise will be without it in the Pebble Valley subdivision. The school board heard from many upset parents about this topic but the offer from Dairland fell upon deaf ears, they would rather not hear about a solution to a problem that us as parents and our children face next year. The School Board should be ashamed of their conduct as represenatatives of the Waukesha School system, they are supposed to look out for the well being of our children. They are supposed to make decisions based on what is best for the school district employees and students, that certainly is not the case here. They have failed the parents, the students, and the tax payers of Waukesha.

So, First Student is going to build an entire terminal, hire / train drivers, obtain equipment, and develop proper (optimal) routing before the start of the next school year? Additionally, Dairyland is only contracted through the end of this school year...who's going to provide summer school busses? If the school board was running a business, they'd have been fired a long time ago.

To kb: The New Tribes Bible Institute students have proven to be very capable and conscientious drivers, plus they are typically good role models for the school children. Please do not comment about things which you do not know and then present as truth.

Also, are there any personal school board connections to this new company hired? It seems strange that Dairyland was so easily and quickly dismissed after all of the years of service to the Waukesha community (including private/religious schools).

How would the kids get these cards what if they forget the card

Or card get lost

WOW, I just searched Wisconsin CIrcuit Court Access on First Student and it seems a lot of there employees have there wages garnished!!! Then I just googled them for fun and WOW do they have have a lot of problems!!! As a taxpayer, we should be MAD that our school board sold us out for there own personal gain!! I as a parent want to see who is driving my children and FIRST STUDENT will NOT!!!!

So let’s see if we can get this straight. First Student is a company based out of Ohio with it’s parent company, FirstGroup from Aberdeen, Scotland.

Here is an article from a former shop manager at First Student that I think should be read.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/first-student/auto-transporters/cincinatti-ohio-b1335.htm

Listening to the School Board at the past meeting this Wednesday it was quite apparent they didn’t want to hear what the people had to say. At one part Warren said that there will be tax dollars saved and spent in other areas. Where is that? To the students? This is what they are trying to have completely implemented in our schools next year. This is something that every parent should watch because this is what they are pushing for. Everyone needs to take a look at Common Core. If you think we were blind sided with this just wait til you see what they are doing with the new Curriculum of Common Core.

http://hoosiersagainstcommoncore.com/stop-the-common-core/

Eye opening report from Ripoff Report, Kay. The interesting thing is the complaint was made on 12-28-12, and First Student has yet to comment, arbitrate, submit a rebuttal, or in any way try and "repair their reputation" as the website allows them (or anyone else) to do. I would think as the largest company of its kind in the country, they would be aware of something like this and at least comment if nothing else, but perhaps they are not even bothered by it, which is even more bothersome. It's just too bad that, once again, children must pay the ultimate price if something bad did happen.

Wow. How many local jobs were just lost?
Will your taxes go DOWN?
You really want to "save money", charge the students to ride the bus. You charge them book fees, activity fees, parking fees, why not another "user fee"?
Where exactly is the FIRST STUDENT bus barn and terminal? Or has it yet to be built? where? Did you clear this with the City of Waukesha? What will happen to the Dairyland/Wisconsin Coach facility?
You don't like what the School Board has done on your behalf? You know what to do on Election Day.

Hey Jack

So we are going to rely on new fangled technology to tell parents their kids are safe? Did anyone think of the value of having a real live person doing the safety checks. So if a sleeping child is left on a bus, good thing a gps will eventually get the word to the parents. No longer will a bus driver have to worry about that childs safety. And at last the parents will finally be responsible for monitoring their kids. No need for a bus driver to have those skills anymore. Seems the bus driver is less of a consideration than the price of gas. What is this community coming to?

***Attention Dairyland Drivers***
First Student is having open house for dairyland employees to come visit and meet first student staff. If you have any questions about employment or anything else, this would be a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to hear it from the FIRST STUDENT company.

Tuesday March 26th 10:00am-1:00pm and 5:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesday March 27th 10:00am-1:00pm and 5:00pm-7:00pm

It will be held at the Brookfield terminal: 16900 Pheasant Dr., Brookfield
Phone: 262-797-7680

I am an employee of First Student and believe this is a good opportunity to get any questions answered.

Thank you

I just want to say something to ALL the people on here making judgements about FIRST STUDENT not being safe enough, or professional enough, or whatever for their kids. FIRST of all, I can tell you I have a best friend and other acquaintences that work for FIRST STUDENT and I have family members that work for DAIRYLAND. I can GUARANTEE anyone that FIRST STUDENT is much safer and much more careful about the drivers they hire to transport the kids. Ask yourself this. How many times have you heard of a FIRST STUDENT driver being in trouble with authorities for driving without a license or under the influence? How many times have you heard of a FIRST STUDENT driver having a record as a sex offender and then driving your kids around? My guess is never, because FIRST STUDENT screens their people better. I can tell you for a fact, that both of those instances I mentioned have happened at DAIRYLAND and more than once. Hell, I have heard of it right from their own drivers even if it hasn't made it to the news everytime. Something for ya'll to think about before you judge drivers that you don't know. Quit fearing the unknown.

Wolf I replied early asking questions in response to someone who had posted saying they worked for First Student, with in 30 minutes my reply to their posting and their actual post completely disappeared. I "looked it up" as they suggested and the outcome was not a positive one for First Student. I asked for facts and stated their comments just made me ask more questions. As I chose to reply instead of leaving a comment my post disappeared, why was that? Sorry but it just didn't look good for First Student in my opinion.

All I have to say is. Are we really upset because of our childrems' safety? parents security with what they know or who they know? or the money????

MB
The board never mentioned safety as an issue with Dairyland.
This is not about money it is about information and transparent government. I have never said it was the right or wrong decision but the way it was handled stunk.

I was not at the board meeting. That I admit. I am only told what my boss tells me. If any dairyland driver has any questions they can come to the open house. I do know that one of the reasons the board decided on first student was because of first students quotes on fuel. I am not bad mouthing any dairyland driver in particular. I am just saying that all I hear is nothing but how unfair dairyland was treated. Obviously the school board sees that it is not working. I don't care who takes my kids to school as long as they are safe. Taxes are not being affected. So no more worrying on the money side. The school board made their decision and the only thing to do is move on. DAIRYLAND DRIVERS ARE ALL NOT BEING FIRED! They are actually still revisiting the age limitation. I have no control over what first student does. I do my job, drive the kids safely and call it a day. In the end that is all that matters. Oh and Ben, this may be a public post area but I do have the right to take off any comment I choose to.

MB
THe problem is that when major decisions are made and ONLY the board knows what is going on--it leads to speculation of something else afoot. We can't be naive here.

The issue here may simply be HORRIBLE School Board communication...let's hope that is all it is.

MB this started as a quest for more info that was not forthcoming at the board meeting. So far i've learned that you said Dairyland bad safety scores-not true-though you now say no company has a good driving record-not reassuring. Under 21=fired (must hire to fire so is contradictory) now being revisited- so statement not true? Using Dairyland terminal but don't quote you=untrue. Didn't attend meeting just repeating what boss told you, which if it was the above seems to be a lot of untruths. So is this the same boss that made the sales pitch to the Board? Thank you for making my quest so enlightening I now know the Board didn't have our students interests at heart. Go on believing it won't affect your taxes without checking into the facts. Please post away.

BEN,
You said I was bad mouthing dairyland, I was only trying to say I was not bad mouthing them and trying to express that every bus company has it's faults and yet you turn my words against me again!! Thanks for that. You are making me to sound like I am a liar. I think it is you that is unsure what is going on. Second, Dairyland drivers are NOT GOING to be FIRED!! They will (as fas as I know) have the option to work for first student or go elsewhere, what is wrong with that? That is how most companies do it when another company buys them out. That is why there is OPEN HOUSE for ALL Dairyland drivers to have questions answered and understand how the hiring process works. So, statement is true. First student is not using the same terminal or the buses because they dont belong to dairyland but to STA (student transportation of America), yes, that part I was wrong. I can admit when I'm wrong. This is all coming from the BIG MAN. If I am so wrong, please enlighten me as to what you think you know because this is the exact reason I didn't want to keep going last time. I don't appreciate being made out to be a liar. Who are you that knows different then I. I told you I work for First Student, so, what's up with you. How can you tell me that my boss is wrong in what he is telling us. How do you say the board doesn't have the students interests at heart? What FACTS do you have that states taxes will be jacked? Please don't bully me, I will report you.

MB
It is amazing that you blame Ben for using your words against you. Also that Ben is making you sound like a liar. Seems you do just fine by yourself with out blaming Ben. Are you a puppet that spouts what your boss knows and not think for yourself? Check your facts first before you open your mouth and spout someone else's facts. They can make you seem like a liar!! Sound familiar?

Concerned I appreciate the comments. This article had nothing to do with the drivers, it had to do with the way the school board handle the transportation contract, and safety concerns at Pebble Valley, and it was clear that there were issues as 2 of the board members questioned the transportation decision. It was just too bad that only the Finance committee was given the chance to respond to the questions asked, the floor was never opened to anyone there; and there quite a few there, so that the whole story could be heard. It's a shame it was turned into a venue for free recruitment of drivers. As I see it the Dairyland drivers have the upper hand, the ones I have met over the years seemed to be mature, reliable, intelligent people that any of the school bus company's out there would want, so I'm sure they are aware they don't need someone rallying in their behalf.

Concerned - at least I'm not the only one called a bully for posting my opinion which originally started as questions. I don't know how an idividual can state they have been asking for the facts with no reply when they have only asked once & in the same posting threaten to Report me if I do state my thoughts. Talk about trying to bully someone. Another misnomer is that it states it was the "exact reason" it "didn't want to keep going the last time", check the postings - I didn't delete, then come back on acting as someone else, and make first contact. And I'm the bully. I feel that if you are adult enough to post your opinions and thoughts you should be adult enough to handle responses that may come your way. I myself will no longer respond to their commentary, for as their words speak for themselves. As these posts are "pending approval" I'm sure they would be pulled if they were considered inappropriate in any way. They pulled one after a school board member complained.

MB - I work for First Student as well and understand where you are coming from. Quite a few comments seemed rather uninformed and mean. I found some of the comments about how unsafe the company must be because some employees have their wages garnished, unfair and ridiculous. I wonder what any of that has to do with ones ability to drive. I also was irritated with the ignorance of the statement about safety checks and drivers checking for kids. Of course the drivers would do the checks, they have to walk to the back of the bus and push an alarm button, this is a state law. First Student also requires drivers to hang empty bus signs and have motion detectors on the buses.

Its about time. Change is good. Dairyland step up your game

Change for the sake of change is stupid.

What "game" needs to be stepped up?

It really the question most of us asked...