|
|
I asked in a previous post I asked why we just couldn?’t leave the buses at Central. The only reply that I received was someone calling me an idiot.
The question in the post was meant to stir up debate, not name-calling.
Seriously, we have two schools with HUGE parking lots that are not used most of the time. The Central lot is rarely used in the evening hours because of the fact that Central High School doesn?’t have a stadium complex.
Why build a new parking lot complex when you have an ocean of unused asphalt just sitting there.
Security a problem? Put up a fence and buy a dog. Hire a rent a cop. Still cheaper than building a new complex that we can ill afford. You are going to need to fence in the new lot anyway.
Trash a problem? Buy some trashcans. Pay someone to clean the lot. Instruct the employees to pick up litter when they see it. Wherever you put the facility you are going to have to keep it clean anyway.
You don?’t want to see school buses around a school? Huh? Maybe we should build an underground parking lot so nobody has to see them. They are school buses not garbage scows.
All I am saying here is to consider using what we already have instead of buying something for the sake of buying something.
How about some intelligent debate? I?’m willing to listen to reasonable comments. Change my mind. Here?’s your chance.
By NIMBY
|
|
|
|
|
|
Counter point
Nimby ?–
While I don?’t condone name calling, I could not disagree with you more on this topic. I?’ll try and break down the issues point by point based upon what you have posted.
?“We have two schools with HUGE parking lots that are not used most of the time. The Central lot is rarely used in the evening hours because of the fact that Central High School doesn?’t have a stadium complex.?” ?– First it?’s important to point out that Central does have sports facilities. They are not the caliber enjoyed at North but there are facilities none the less. The lots were the buses are currently parked take up space used by the baseball, softball teams to the south and football and band to the north. I personally witnessed a traffic nightmare caused by the buses taking up space when there were junior high or freshmen footballs games going on at the same time as tennis matches and band practice. Cars were double parked and parked on the grass because there was no place else to park. Now that baseball and softball season are upon us it?’s going to be more of the same.
?”Put up a fence and buy a dog. Hire a rent a cop. Still cheaper than building a new complex?…?” ?– Perhaps in the short term it would be cheaper, but what about in the long term? Do you really think that paying a rent a cop is a more viable solution than building a proper facility?
?”Trash a problem? Buy some trashcans. Pay someone to clean the lot. Instruct the employees to pick up litter when they see it.?” ?– Here you go again with the buy, buy, buy, pay, pay, pay philosophy. There already are trashcans and even a dumpster sitting on the grass where the buses are currently parked. Has this solved the litter problem? No. As far as instructing the employees to pick up the litter?… good luck with that. The bus drivers are union employees. They will not do anything that is not in their contract. Even the teachers are going to balk at this suggestion, they are union employees as well.
?”They are school buses not garbage scows.?” ?– You are exactly right. They are school buses. Dozens and dozens of them. Buses sitting unattended for hours and days on end invite crime. Don?’t believe me? Contact the Pickerington Police Department and ask them how many calls they have received about kids hanging around that lot or how many kids they have caught in the buses during the early morning hours.
I certainly don?’t want to buy something just for the sake of buying either. But we need to practical. Where were you when the buses started rolling across town four times a time wasting gas? Why couldn?’t half the buses have been parked at North and half at Central? It seems to me that this would have saved a pretty penny at the gas pump.
By Central Mom
|
|
|
In the contract
Isn't this bus barn facility being built by Peterman? So if they build the building and the parking spaces at North Like the plans call for don't they turn the facilities over to PLSD in the fourth year? Isn't this in our contract with them?
|
|
|
Not just a parking lot
The facility being built is more than just a parking lot in which to park busses. A building is needed in which to store parts inventory for repair, and to do repairs, as well as contain offices for Peterman & a lounge for the drivers. Currently, trailers at Central are being rented by Peterman for personnel and parts.
Ideally, the new building will also be used by the district for maintenance of other vehicles (from trucks to mowers) as well as storage of some equipment/items that should be stored indoors and not just in a fenced in lot. Right now, maintenance facilities are spread out in various places in the district. It will be more effective and efficient to have a central maint. site for the busses and district vehicles.
So, while both high schools have large parking lots, the obligation by Peterman is more than just providing parking spaces for busses. A building will be constructed and there is space at the North complex on which to do this.
|
