Menifee Student Transportation Project Needs Your Support -- Yes, You!
Yeah, it's me, the guy who wrote this column proposing a grass-roots transportation system -- "owned and operated" by we, the...
http://www.menifee247.com/2012/07/menifee-student-transportation-project.html
Some people say I'm crazy. Others think I'm an angel. Whatever. This isn't about me. It's about addressing a problem we have in our community. Sure, you can scream and shout about the elimination of school bus routes in our city. Go ahead. But when you stop to take a breath, help us out by doing something that yields immediate results.
Help us get these kids to and from school.
We need volunteer drivers. Lots of them. We also need parents with transportation needs to speak up. Don't be afraid. We'll be smart about this. The system is designed to put neighborhood parents and other reputable citizens together in a cooperative effort. We're not letting your kid in a car with "Mr. Smith" from the trailer down by the river. Volunteers will be screened closely or we won't do this. (Any cops want to volunteer some time?)
The requests for assistance and offers of help are starting to come in to our email address, menifeerides@gmail.com. But we need more. A lot more. If you need transportation for your student(s) come August, send an email with "rides needed" in the subject line. If you are willing to provide such transportation, email with the subject "rides offered."
I refuse to be discouraged by comments such as the following, posted anonymously as a comment to my column on this subject:
This is a nice gesture, but it will do nothing but make a great news story. If it gets off the ground, it will fall apart even quicker than it starts.
Help me to show these people that a plan like this can work, that it will NOT fall apart. Show your pride in this community and volunteer to help with the Menifee Rides program. If you're on the other side of the issue and need transportation for your children, take a chance and speak up. Otherwise, I have no sympathy for you when you complain about the school board's decision.
Now go enjoy your weekend -- after you send that email. And thanks for your time.
Thank you Doug for your creative approach to finding a solution. Never underestimate the power of bringing people together for a positive purpose!
ReplyDeleteWhere were you during the board meetings?
ReplyDeleteThe proposal supported by Mr Wolf was full of misleading information, and it was passed by a board of educators. Remember these people who don't care about your children's safety next election.
OMg iI have been asking and looking for transportation for my kids since I moved here since 2007!! This is a huge problem for my family and I'm will be emailing closer to august !! This is a God send!!
ReplyDeleteWhy not see if you can get commuter vans for areas, I don't know how much it would cost you, but they have them which carry 13-18 passengers, I'm sure parents could get together with the company(s) and work out a decent price to include insurance too. The only problem I see with individual folks driving is insurance and reliablity. With commuter vans, parents could work out driving once a week and switch off. Call some private schools, the charter schools, find out how they went about transporting children back and forth, it might take some time to find the exact mode of transportation but in the end it'll be worth it.
ReplyDelete