DODDS Re-Zones bus system and routes

[JimmyHoffalot]

It took dodds Schools several years to figure out that they don't know how to bus students effectively. Having kids ride a bus for two hours each way is probably against the law. High level doods officals met and have figured out they have a bus transportation problem; duhhhhh? I wonder how much they pay the guys running the bus program? based on their efforts it must be to much since they must be intoxicated during the day when they are making decisions.

[ryukyuboi]

Could you provide ANY law that clearly states the amount of time on a bus would be illegal after x amount of time?

Having attended DoDDS schools on Okinawa from grades 1 -12, when there was only one high school, some of my classmates were bussed to present day Kubasaki from Camp Chinen - an area well south of Naha.

How long does it take you to drive today, without stopping to pick anyone up, from let's say, Naha Airport to Foster? Keep in mind that Camp Chinen was way south of Naha. There were fewer traffic lanes back in the day as well, and no expressway. Go figure, my friend.

When you have dependents living all across the island today, from the Naha area to the Ishikawa area, bus rides to school, for some, will be long.

[wefukmyung]

I think your taking your anger out on the wrong guys. The doods as you called them are professionals who dearly care about the troubles and failures to correct the busing system. It is the wives of officers who think they have the same degree of authority that cause these problems. If the doods would stop being pushed, pulled and led around by these Socialites we probaly would have a smooth and effective routing system.

[ifeyepfreely]

I think the accepted guideline for travel each way is 60 minutes (per School bus Transportation News web site). I know some of you rode school buses here in Okinawa up hill 2 hours each way, but that was a long long time ago. The problem with the routes here is that the DOODs are not in touch with the current roadways and infrastructure. The roads change here frequently as well as the traffic patterns and the School bus program is not able to react fast enough to the changes. After all; the DOODs met and it took them a week to figure out they weren't getting the buses where they needed to be.

[ryukyuboi]

There are quite a few factors when it comes to producing a good bus schedule for students I would think. Current and reliable information is one of those factors. DoDDS probably relies on all kinds of information from the military to create a bus schedule. Where are people living now off base and on? How many students will there be next year? When will new base housing open up? What on base housing will close for remodeling? Sometimes current and reliable information is not received, or changes occur that could effect the bus schedule, or schedules are based on an anticipated number of some kind provided. There also is a transportation budget (probably cut recently for the war effort, coupled with an increase cost for gas and labor.) to be considered.

If bussed students are getting to school on time, what's the problem? I would think that the goal would be to get students to where they need to be in the shortest amount of time possible.

If anyone can produce a better bus schedule, given all the various factors, offer it up to DoDDS.

[okisteve]

'Scuse me, but if the Department of Defense can't work out a decent bus schedule, aren't we expecting too much from them in Iraq?

[ryukyuboi]

LOL....BUT, DoDDS is not currently offering public education in Iraq for military dependents....To tell you the truth, I am not sure there is a bus schedule problem on Okinawa. Nothing very factual has been offered in this forum if there is.

[Asshat]

LOL....BUT, DoDDS is not currently offering public education in Iraq for military dependents....To tell you the truth, I am not sure there is a bus schedule problem on Okinawa. Nothing very factual has been offered in this forum if there is.

There is a recommended limit of 60 minutes each way. Of course since most of the new arrivals demand to live on a $4000 per month hacienda well past the published commuting zones, (housing has this info) it takes the buses longer than an hour to deliver students to either a north or KAB school.

Pre-established school zoming with a trend in families renting off base housing in the north also creates challenges. The last thing families want to hear is that Junior must change schools. Or that the same regulation that recommends routes not exceed an hour also recommend 7-12 grade students walk 1.5 miles from central bus stops.

How about that Jimmy Hoffalot? Establishing routes and stops like that will definitely reduce route times.

And yes, the budget is under the same restraints/constraints that anything else in the DoD is under.

Please, if anyone has a better way to run student transportation, give the transportation folks a call and let them know.

[Daniela]

I live pretty much at the end of the bus route in Yomitan. If you live further out you have to drive to school or the bus stop.
As far as I know they are not extending further out, because it would take longer than an hour.

[Nomad]

I think your taking your anger out on the wrong guys. The doods as you called them are professionals who dearly care about the troubles and failures to correct the busing system. It is the wives of officers who think they have the same degree of authority that cause these problems. If the doods would stop being pushed, pulled and led around by these Socialites we probaly would have a smooth and effective routing system.



I'm not understanding your logic here. Why do you assume that "the wives of officers" are at fault? Why the hostility? I hate to break it to you, but enlisted servicemembers have spouses too.

[socalheart]

True, but no one of any authority to get things done actually listens to enlisted wives. ;) heh. The moment the mall is too hot for a general's wife, they tear apart the central sir system without question. It's a broad generalisation that many enlisted military and civilians have come to agree upon. It's not right about all officers' wives, but it is more often than not. It's possible that although several enlisted wives complained about the issue, once a few officers' wives complained, the problem was addressed and taken care of quickly. Therein may lie the logic of the statement.
I'm not understanding your logic here. Why do you assume that "the wives of officers" are at fault? Why the hostility? I hate to break it to you, but enlisted servicemembers have spouses too.

[Nomad]

I must not be familiar with all of the background on this story, then. Why is it assumed that wives were the catalyst behind the review/changes?

I'm new to this forum, so I don't know who everyone is yet. However, I've seen two or three really negative remarks made about officers wives in the couple of days I've been lurking/posting here. It's fabulous to know that within the realm of "awful Americans" there are even more despicable castes...Marines are typically categorized as being knuckle dragging thugs and officers wives are shrews who wield disproportionate power. You can imagine my joy about falling under both umbrellas!

[Tony Stacks]

If anyone has a problem with this forum then you can always LEAVE!
Not directed at anyone personally but just food for thought.

[Daniela]

Seems like "Marine Officer's Wife" is a new minority that's being beaten down!

To heck with the man!!!!!!!:cursing:

Seriously now, sorry if you are taken this personally, but are all of those parking spots reserved for officers really necessary? Can't they walk like everybody else.
They and their wives don't want to be singled out, but they sure want the privileges.
Let one of them complain at the BX/PX and watch the a$$ kissing.

[Nomad]

Tony S...thanks for the kind words if they were directed at me.

Daniela...I agree about the reserved parking spots. I've been other places that don't have them (they save them for pregnant women and new mothers, etc) and no one seems to drop dead in the parking lot from the exertion of walking from the far corners.
As for complaining at the PX...I've never done it so I don't know if I'd get special treatment. I don't know what the regular treatment is, though.

This still doesn't answer my question about the bus routes and why the changes are being made to shorten them.

[Daniela]

Heck,
I wish they would make changes. My child catches the bus at 6:11 a.m.
When we were living on post it was 6:45 a.m.
My question really is this one? Why does Middle and High school start so damn early? I see that they really can't do anything about the bus route.
The only explanation I have is that they have to stagger the buses because it would be:
a. to congested
b. they don't have enough buses to bus everybody at the same time

If that is they case I would suggest starting Middle and High School an hour after Elementary School
Reason being: teenagers just don't want to go to sleep early and love to sleep in. On some program somewhere they did whatever scan I don't remember and it was proven that "they" really don't sleep well before 11:00 p.m.
Even if that is not true it would make my life a whole lot easier<3

So, I say start school for them at 9 something and let them got to school until 4 something. That way mom and dad can get home in time to supervise better.
Some teenager shouldn't be left alone at 2:30 in the afternoon you know:ohmy:

[wefukmyung]

I agree with Nomad here most spouses are unproductive officer or enlisted, and only hinder the process. I think like Uminchu who I think is saying there must be a better solution. I would suggest contracting the process out to more capable organizations and hold them accountable.

[EatMoreFish]

I agree with Nomad here most spouses are unproductive officer or enlisted, and only hinder the process. I think like Uminchu who I think is saying there must be a better solution. I would suggest contracting the process out to more capable organizations and hold them accountable.

I agree. I would gladly bid on that contract. I am sure my company can do it for have the cost, with half the people, and make double the profit.

[wefukmyung]

My logic would be that with nothing better to do these wives and husbands tend to make mountains out of the proverbial mole hills. These dependents left with nothing better to do make most everyone lives miserable because they have no life and or nothing better to do. To them everything is someone esles fault.. the fact that Junior is an obnoxious brat isn't there fault it is the bus drivers, no it is the schools. To bad they can't just look in a mirror and realize they are at the root of the problem.

[DoctorP]

There is an ODAC meeting on Lester tonight at 6pm about the rezoning and other issues for the new middle school.

[ifeyepfreely]

If the complaints wouldn't have come in you don't think the doods would have figured it out on their own do you? It is sad to say that if these nagging ungrateful wretched individuals (not implying Officer Wives, but if the shoe fits; well) weren't ready to pounce on the first feelings of injustice, the doods would just be sitting around enjoying the consumption of beverages all day long.

[Asshat]

If the complaints wouldn't have come in you don't think the doods would have figured it out on their own do you? It is sad to say that if these nagging ungrateful wretched individuals (not implying Officer Wives, but if the shoe fits; well) weren't ready to pounce on the first feelings of injustice, the doods would just be sitting around enjoying the consumption of beverages all day long.

What are you talking about? Do you have kids in DODDS schools? If you did, you would know that the changes were brought about by the addition of a new middle school. This was all passed at the numerous meetings at each school, town hall meetings, and etc.

Sounds like you just took a cheap shot with no back ground knowledge.