Feb 15, 2008
posted by Shelley
Everyone has complaints about where they work, or the jobs they must perform. These complaints can cover everything from benefits to colleagues to management specific issues. Well, I have complaints too — not with my own business (mckainerwin), or with my position within my brother’s company (McKain Performance Group, Inc.) — and my complaints pertain to safety.
I drive a school bus for the Crothersville Community School system. We are contract drivers (meaning we own our own buses and contract with the school to provide transportation) and are not employees with benefits or other considerations. Still, with the majority of C’ville’s bus drivers having many, many years under our belts, you would think that SOMEONE would listen to our concerns. Think again.
Our school is home to both elementary and high school students all under one roof. On both the north and south side of the facility are doors to each age group. Throughout the past few years, the school’s Superintendent has changed our drop-off/pick-up positions many times. Maybe that is because of the building project (yah right) or maybe he feels as if he’s choosing the safest and best spot for the students (I’ve seen him outside ONE time this year during pick-up and NOT ONCE during drop-off). Even though bus drivers (the ones with the experience and that are there EVERY DAY) have voiced their concerns during school board meetings, our pleas fall on deaf ears.
To preface my complaint, let me explain about student pick-up and delivery in the past. During the building project phase, bus drivers were picking-up/dropping off students on Preston Street (the front of the school). Yes, it’s a public street, but we were told we were NOT to have our stop-arms out during loading (we could while unloading) as this would totally block access for 15 minutes every afternoon. Even though this caused drivers to break the law, we did as we were told.
Last year, we were moved to the south side of the school and parked on school property within a ‘drive through area’ for pick-up, and dropped students off in this same area. This was MUCH safer insofar as the students were concerned. Upon leaving the school; however, bus drivers complained that the crossing guard was leaving too early (we felt that the crossing guard should NOT leave in a hurry to beat the buses — but should instead stay until all the students had time to cross the busy Preston Street intersection), so to remedy our complaints — this year we were moved to Oak Street on the north side of the facility.
Now Oak Street is a little town street that would be a dead-end if not for the run-through road around the park, but it does have homes and the residents require its use for access. Still, every day at 2:45pm, bus drivers pull out stop-arms for loading…and sit there until at least 3:00pm blocking traffic. We watch as parents run our stop arms (6 buses, 6 stop-arms) to get to the parking lot to pick up their child — and we cringe when our already pathetic “plan” doesn’t go as it should. Today, a semi was unloading products at the cafeteria door. The trailer was on school property, but the tractor portion of the semi stuck out into Oak Street…and the whole thing was in the way of where the students were.
One of the buses pulled out to the left (as shown in the photo above) to help block the road — some kids were even walking under the trailer of the semi to get to the 3 buses behind the one you see on the right side of this photo. It was either under the trailer or out in the road as water stands everywhere within this area and kids simply had no place to go. Safe? Hell no! Not even when things are optimum for where the Superintendent has bus drivers doing their job is it safe. This day was a joke. Where are the parents? Are they complaining? If they are — they aren’t doing it in public at a school board meeting. I think it’s time they did. It’s for certain the school bus driver’s voices are never heard.
Feb 13, 2008
posted by Shelley
No, YOU go out there and see what that noise was!
Feb 13, 2008
Posted by Perry
If you’ve been paying any attention to the Presidential primaries this year, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed that two candidates have separated themselves from their competition.
Senators John McCain, and Barack Obama, have gained nation-wide support for themselves among a multitude of voters and party leaders. Both were given little chance of winning just over a year ago and now find themselves (McCain especially) of being their respective parties nominee for President of the United States.
How have they managed to accomplish this? – they have used differentiation to distinguish themselves from the other candidates. Voters now feel that each one has a different message and will give voters what they REALLY want – change.
Senator McCain’s campaign was all but left for dead just last summer. McCain then began hammering away at being the only candidate who could reach across party lines to get things done – something his competitors could not do. He stressed his record of voting not strictly with his party, but for what was better for the country. His “maverick” persona has resonated with independents and with “Reagan Democrats” which has resulted in his huge delegate lead.
Senator Obama has differentiated himself from Hillary Clinton as being the one candidate who can bring real change to Washington. He has managed to paint Sen. Clinton as the “establishment” and one who would continue the era of what is wrong in government. Obama’s impressive showing is a direct result of differentiation and is now seemingly steamrolling him towards the nomination.
If you’re in any business, you also should be using differentiation to separate yourself from your competition. I have read a wonderful book by Scott McKain called “What Customers REALLY Want” that talks about differentiation and can honestly say it’s a MUST for any business! The views expressed by Mr. McKain are precisely what both Senators McCain and Obama have successfully used to position themselves as they have.
If you as a business are not using the power of differentiation, I submit to you the campaigns of these two Senators who have used it to garner tremendous success – it is a POWERFUL tool that can get customers to look at your organization in a different light than your competitors and help bring YOU the success you deserve!
Feb 13, 2008
posted by Shelley
The weather here is nasty; ice is literally caked on everything. Figuring that school would be called off, but not certain – I checked the local TV station’s websites for closing information. There are 4 major Louisville channels that report, and I log on to each of them to see what the latest news is, as well as see who is closing and where. Get this! If you check over a certain number of times on whas11.com, they require that you register with them to get the information.
I don’t know about you, but if I want more crap in my email box, I’ll decide where I who I want it to come from. I’m even used to the annoying pop-up boxes that encourage you to register your email – but no way is whas11.com going to force me into providing anything just to see if children have school in my area.
I immediately removed whas11.com from my favorites and chose to instead visit Wave3, Fox41 and WLKY. C’mon already. Wouldn’t you think that this is one thing that should be provided as a service to those who watch your channel and patronize your advertisers? Is it so important to WHAS11 to harvest email addresses that they would withhold information that might keep someone safe just to get them? Booooo!
Feb 12, 2008
posted by Shelley
It’s right at the freezing mark and ice/sleet is still falling in the big city today. Although I haven’t been out on the roads, my guess is that US 31 is clear enough for travel, but the side roads are nothing but ice. Libby isn’t a fan of ice (or snow or even rain for that matter), and only tested the nasty conditions with her front paws while keeping the other 1/2 of her body inside and warm.
