Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

From the PLSD web site and school handouts:

Dear Parents/Guardian,


For the past few months, the bus drivers have been negotiating with Petermann Transportation, Inc. Petermann is our district?’s contractor for bussing services. On Sunday, the union membership will vote on their new contract with Petermann. Hopefully, these negotiations and Sunday?’s vote will result in a settlement for both sides and transportation services will continue as normal.


This notice is being sent to you now in the event that the bus drivers take a work action against Petermann Transportation. You need to know that school officials have laid out district-wide and building level plans to deal with no buses running their routes.


The Pickerington Local School District does plan to have all schools open pending any unforeseen calamity. Only transportation offered will be the special education buses as mandated by law. Parents are encouraged to car-pool with neighbors when possible. Off-duty police/sheriff officers will be stationed at each school to help with the anticipated increased car traffic.


Should your child be absent due to illness or transportation problems, please contact the respective school to report your child being out. Failure to contact the school will result in your child being marked unexcused. Tardiness due to traffic conditions will be excused.


IF THE UNION MEMBERSHIP VOTES AGAINST THE NEW PETERMANN CONTRACT, THERE COULD BE THE POSSIBILITY OF NO BUS TRANSPORTATION ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY. IF THIS ACTION SHOULD HAPPEN, SCHOOL OFFICIALS WILL NOTIFY THE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS AND USE OUR PICKERINGTON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WEB SITE (www.pickerington.k12.oh.us) AND BUILDING TELEPHONE SYSTEMS TO ANNOUNCE THAT THERE WILL BE NO BUS SERVICE. IF THERE IS NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT ON TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS, THEN BUSES WILL RUN AS USUAL.


Following is information regarding procedures that will be in place at your child?’s school:

Check each school for proceedures


By brother

Latest

Pickerington bus drivers will vote Sunday to avoid a strike
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON -Buses might not be running Monday to pick up kids for school in Pickerington.But Pickerington Local School District's bus drivers will vote Sunday on a tentative agreement that could avert a strike.
''I sure hope they don't go out on strike,'' said Evelyn Aban of Pickerington. ''I have three children going to school, and I work nights.''

Aban said she normally gets home, prepares the kids' breakfast and then puts them on the buses. She has children at high school, junior high and elementary levels.

''If they go on strike, I'll have to take the kids to school,'' Aban said.

The drivers belong to Teamsters Local 284, and the approximately 80 members of the local's bargaining unit gave their leaders authorization to order the strike starting Monday.

''A week ago the membership voted a proposed contract down,'' bus driver Frank Sparacino said.

Sparacino said the sticking points are the length of the contract - which union members want to be three years instead of five - as well as the wage structure and the cost of health insurance.

But Sparacino said union leaders have informed the drivers that a tentative agreement has been reached and that members will be briefed and asked to vote on it Sunday.

Letters went to Pickerington parents Friday saying the schools will still be in session if there is a strike.

''The Pickerington Local School District does plan to have all schools open pending any unforeseen calamity. The only transportation offered will be the special education buses as mandated by law,'' according to the letter that went home with Pickerington High School Central students from Principal Chuck Kemper. ''Parents are encouraged to car-pool with neighbors when possible. Off-duty police officers will be stationed at each school to help with the anticipated increased traffic.''

Last summer, Pickerington schools signed a five-year agreement with Petermann Ltd. of Cincinnati to provide bus service for the city schools.

Since then the union and Petermann have been in negotiations with the bus drivers, who have been working without a contract.

''We hope the two sides will reach an agreement and a contract can be reached,'' said Kreg Ultican, assistant principal at Pickerington Central. ''But we have to be prepared if they don't.''

Bonnise Character, a Pickerington parent who has two children in Pickerington schools, said she hopes the bus drivers won't strike.

''Parents have it pretty tough right now, as it is with many two-income families. They depend on those buses picking up the children and the schools keeping them safe through the day,'' Character said. ''My children walk to school, but I know it could be tough on other families.''

police WHERE????

I don't want police at the schools. I want police makig the old village work. Holy cow, even on a good day it is a nightmare. Help us in old village, PLEASE Chief!!!

apparent settlement

A parent returning from a travel baseball practice at North told us that the drivers have settled with Peterman and their will be no strike tomorrow. Stay tuned to local news for official word.