CPS superintendent sends letter of thanks after school buses delayed
COLUMBIA — Icy and hazardous road conditions caused by freezing drizzle delayed school buses Friday afternoon, leaving some Columbia Public Schools students and faculty unable to go home several hours after the day ended.
Emergency services, police and officials from the Missouri Department of transportation urged people in mid-Missouri to stay off the roads and stay home. Nearly 400 accidents were reported in Boone County.
At about 8:30 p.m., buses had yet to pick up students from all four high schools and three elementary schools, district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said in an email. An hour and a half later, all students had been picked up, but some buses were still inching along their routes.
One bus from Two Mile Prairie Elementary was still dropping off students after 11:30 p.m.
On Saturday morning, District Superintendent Peter Stiepleman addressed the transportation issues in a letter to the community.
"Dear Parents/Guardians, Colleagues, Students, and Community:
At 1 a.m. this morning, Student Transportation of America gave us the all clear to signify that all of our children were home safely. I am writing this letter to thank you for your patience and to recognize that many people made yesterday go as well as it possibly could have gone.
Thank you to our CPS staff. They cleared parking lots and salted walkways, they read to kids, danced with kids, played games with kids and fed our kids. They sat with our children and listened to their worries. One colleague insisted on taking the bus with a medically fragile child so he could reassure the child’s parents that everything would be ok. Another colleague commandeered a small school bus from one of the high schools and drove to the spots where larger buses had been stranded so children could get home safely. Thank you to our community members who helped our buses out of difficult situations. There are so many examples to be shared. The stories are inspiring and a reminder that so many people contributed to last night’s successes.
Thank you to the STA bus drivers and the mechanics working behind the scenes are being hailed as heroes. Student Transportation of America showed us all that our children matter and their safety is a priority.
Challenges with road closures, traffic gridlock and accidents around Columbia caused significant delays. Our community’s first responders and the joint communication dispatchers working to direct them demonstrated how the oaths they each take, to protect and serve, are not just words, but a solemn vow. Our first responders made it possible for city, county, and state salt trucks to get to some of the more challenging spots in our 300-square mile school district. Thank you.
Yesterday could have ended very differently. Everyone was caught off guard with how quickly road conditions changed – city, county and state. As we shared in a previous communication, the timing of the weather and the size of our district would not have allowed us to begin dismissal processes any earlier. We were advised to wait for regular dismissal in order to allow time for roads to be treated, for the ground temperature to rise, and for bus drivers to make it in safely to drive afternoon routes.
We should be proud of what we accomplished last night for our kids. Over the next few weeks, our team will come together to review our processes. Every event provides an opportunity to get better. Thank you for your continued support and positive correspondence. We are grateful for your trust.
We Are One,
Peter Stiepleman"
No comments:
Post a Comment