Does anyone know what's going on there. I'm hearing all sorts of things ,But I'd like to know the truth. It seems like everyone there has lock jaw.

Would you like to elaborate a little.... I can tell you what I know.... They transport children to school.... That's all I know.....

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What's your question? If anyone knows what Colonial School District Transportation does?

What are you hearing exactly?

Let me guess, It's called a transportation dept. and it's in the Colonial School district, I'll bet it's for the School bus driver's and there Aids and the mechanics that repair the buses and maybe the Administration people who run the department. And they work for the State of Delaware and the New Governor is cutting back on people .Maybe even school buses and that sort of stuff.

So is your question on what we're hearing have to do with the budget, or about things that are going on within the transportation dept? I haven't heard anything in particular about either, but if it's a budget issue, it's certainly not limited to Capitol school district.

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I'm gettin' hard on myself, sitting in my easy chair.

.... ^^what Rockmama said, AND most of the school districts' money comes from local school taxes not state funds. If you are worried that the Gov's proposed state cuts will force your kids to walk to school.... don't fret. That won't happen.

They may consolidate the buses and drivers by scattering the school start times, doubling or even tripling up the bus runs. Whatever they do, they won't make a child walk an unsafe distance or cross any large streets.

, AND most of the school districts' money comes from local school taxes not state funds.

Actually about 70% of the district money is state funds (this, combined with the legislature passing our 50% increase in insurance contribution, is the reason I will be losing about 200 to 250 per pay, but that's another story).

That's the reason that we are not allowed to strike. In PA it's mostly local which is why every August the picket lines start. However, I haven't heard anything about school bus service being cut any more than anything else.

Right now the big catch phrase for Everything is, 'It's on the table', so if you were to speak w/ Gov. Markell himself all he would say is,'It's on the table.'

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W~

Thanks for the memories, even though they weren't so great.

Thanks for that Wendy... I didn't realize it was as high as 70%. When was the last time Colonial raised the school taxes?

You know...I'm not sure, and being that I live in the district you would think I'd be on top of that!!!

I do know that many districts are really struggling. I know in Christina we haven't had a pay increase (cost of living or otherwise) in 3 years, and (prior to the budget crisis) we had agreed that we would do without one until the District got back on it's feet. The proposed date was 2010. I have a strong suspicion that won't be happening now.
The state is taking away step increases, tuition assistance for additional education, free classes in the summer, pay increases for higher education (masters degrees, doctorates, etc), pay increases for national board certification, etc., etc. etc. All of the degrees and certifications that cost us a lot of money to earn, and we do it at the districts/states request (understandably, they want their teachers to be on top of their game) but now we don't get the financial compensation that we should.
When I got my masters degree the classes were 900.00 each. Multiply that by 12+ classes and it's a huge chunk of money.

Hmm...buy a new car? get my masters? buy a new car? get my masters?

What? No pay increase for the masters? No help by allowing me to take classes free in the summer? AND I have to pay 50% more for my benefits. And I'm taking an 8% pay hit. AND I'm taking an additional % for everything over 60K. damn.

I've been sending out notes that look like coupons with my payment for luxury services. It says something to the affect of, "I enjoy shopping here a great deal and would like to continue, however; if I lose 8% of my salary I will not be able to afford your services any longer." I've given them to my hair stylist, my lawn services (both grass cutting and lawn solutions), clothing stores, etc.

IMHO, I believe the ripple effect of the Governors proposal will devastate Delaware.



hopping off soapbox now.

the wife is in the same boat Wendy.

As you know, the wife has picked up a new job in preparation to just make ends meet after the loss goes into effect.

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TalkPa.net - Pennsylvania's Forum

Colonial Transportation is indeed the dept. that schedules the bus runs, trains the drivers, deals with personnel issues, calls for late openings and snow days, deals with broken down buses and sometimes angry parents and kids. It's a thankless job.

Wendy, That's a great Idea. I'll pass it along to my friends at Colonial School District.

One of the problems that Colonial School District is having is When people retire from the state they want to have something else to do,so they get a part time job some place else. At Colonial a lot of state retiress got jobs as driver's and attendents on the buses. It's called double dipping. I don't mean that they are working two jobs at the same time .But some do until they get caught. It looks like Colonial is going to loose some good driver's and attendent's and maybe an administrator or two. and instead of hiring new people at the starting rate they want to give the bus runs to another bus company ,This affect all the driver's and attendent's.One problem is that the district says that he driver's and attendents aren't state worker's but when this eight per cent cut is in place I hear that they will get the same cut in pay. Just a rumor for now. When Govenor Minner was in office she said that the lower paid state enployee's needed a raise, The driver's and attendents didn't get one because they aren't state employee's , The part that get's me is that the administrater's have state trucks to use and they get free gasoline to boot. Maybe the new governor will changwe that . Make them drive there own cars and trucks to work and back