Phillips Academy - Crisis in Student School Bus Transportation
CFBS Request Bus Funds From BHAM City Council Education Committe ** School Board President to Phillips Academy Parents: "No School Bus Transportation," Drop Dead
Phillips Parents Upset Over Bus Transportation Denial - School Board to Parents – “Drop Dead”Read Story:http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/118544174257180.xml&coll=2
The only solution offered Phillips parents from its principal, "form car pools after school starts." Do they think these parents are "Soccer Moms??” What!”- With the school district’s student poverty rate at 80% of its students eligible for free or reduced lunch?
Call Stan Mims:Ø STAN MIMS 503-0740 (CELL PHONE)
UPDATE: August 8, 2007Birmingham, Alabama
In support of Phillips Academy parents, Citizens for Better Schools executive director Ronald E. Jackson and Student Transportation Petition organizer Mrs. Yvonne Reed, appeared before the Education Committee of the Birmingham City Council to request “equal treatment for Phillips Academy parents in need of transportation for our children.” The scheduled meeting of Birmingham’s Education committee did not have a quorum. Chairman Roderick Royal was the only council committee person present.. Education Committee members Steven Hoyt and Council President Carol Smitterman were absent from Thursday’s meeting. Councilman Royal said he would not support “special funding for Phillips Academy” parents who “voluntarily” choose to enroll students in the new school. Royal did say “all students should be treated equally,” Citizens for Better Schools position on Phillips. Mr. Jackson informed Mr. Royal that Christian Elementary and Ramsay High School bus transportation for students, same as Phillips Academy students, voluntarily enroll in those schools to take advantage of the magnet school curricula offered at the two schools. Mr. Jackson further noted the lack of candor on behalf school administrators. Phillips parents were not told until tow weeks ago no bus transportation will be provided, and the Alabama State Department of Education will not provide funds for any school where students are bused, voluntarily, from thier home school zone to a cross-town school. Citizens for Better Schools is asking Phillips Academy parents who need transportation to call 4787183.
No State Funding For "Out of Zone/Cross-Town Busing of Students
[Mr. Jackson] On April 12th, 2007, Mr. Joe Lightsey, Director of Pupil Transportation for the State of Alabama concluded a pupil transportation audit for BCS at the request of Dr. Mims. In that final report he reviewed safety factors and routing efficiencies for the proposed changes of several school zones. He advised Dr. Mims to review all transportation expenditures that were not covered by state reimbursable funds. The transportation operation allocation for a district is calculated based on transported miles for students attending school in their required school zone where they reside.Phillips Academy is being proposed as a magnet school where attendance is voluntary based on acceptance from anywhere in the district. The state operational allocation does not provide funding to cover that kind of transportation costs [for Phillips Academy]. Other districts throughout the state that operate magnet programs require the parents to provide transportation to these voluntary school programs. In some instances , certain transportation costs are covered at a local expense. In light of the districts efforts to regain financial stability, Ms. Cobb was correct in what she had said regarding reserve funds.BCS has a tough several months ahead of them. They won’t begin to see any significant financial relief until the middle of next fiscal year. Their success in achieving the required one months operating balance will be solely dependant on their ability to control expenditures and keep them aligned with revenues.
Additionally, it would not be legal to use capital expenditure funds for transportation. By law , a school district is restricted to only use those funds for construction or other approved capital expenditure costs, such as equipment purchases or technology.
Contact Birmingham School board members, Birmingham City Council and Mayor for Bus Transportation Funds:
Birmingham City Council Members and Mayor
Valerie Abbott, District 3
Vaabbot@ci.birmingham.al.us 254-2355 (Office)252-6307 (Home)321-3103 (Other)602-1561 (Cell Phone)
William A. Bell, District 5wabell@ci.birmingham.al.us
254-2678 (Office)873-3712 (Black Berry)Cell Phone 572-2675999-2472 (Pager)Steven Hoytt Steven W. Hoytt District 8
swhoyt@ci.birmingham.al.us254-2304 (Office)835-5258 (Cell Phone)
Joe L. Montgomery, District 1
254-2349 (Office)856-0439 (Home)
Maxine Parker, District 4
254-2464 (Office) 873-3716 (Black Berry) 841-6148 (Home Number)
Carol (Reynolds) Duncan, District 2
254-2348 (Office) 213-5939 (Cell Phone)873-3708 (Black Berry)
Roderick Royal, District 9
254-2302 (Office)873-3719 (Black Berry) Carol Smitherman, District 6
254-2358 (Office)266-5269 (Cell Phone)873-3707 (Black Berry)322-0012 (Other)
Miriam Witherspoon, District 7
mdwithe@ci.birmingham.al.us254-2418 (Ofice)
960-3381 (Cell Phone)
Mayor Bernardk Kincaid
254-2000 (Office)
Birmingham Superintendent:
Call: Stan Mims at 503-0740 (Cell Phone) Ø Birmingham Board of Education Members
District 1 Martha Wixom 841-2356 Schools: Sun Valley, Arthur, Wright, Going, North Roebuck, Huffman MS; Smith, Gaskin, Christian, Huffman HS
District 2 Virginia Volker 592—7966 224-4804 Schools: Robinson, McElwain, Banks/Mitchell, Oliver, Avondale
District 3 Mike Higgenbotham: 933-2765613-3642 Schools: Gate City, Oliver Avondale
District 4 Carolyn Hollman Cobb 591-9851 821-7577
Schools: Inglenook, Barrett, Gibson, Hudson, Kingston, Whatley, Norwood, Curry, Hayes, Kennedy, Woodlawn
District 5 Danetta K. Thornton Ownes 322-6430 Fax: 322-6610
Schools: Glen Iris, Epic, Tuggle, Hill, Wilkerson, Kirby, Ramsay, Parker
District 6 Willie May 923-8237 249-6445 Fax: 925-5715
Schools: Hemphill, Jackson, Center Street, Washington
District 7 Odessa Ashley Schools: Price, Central Park, Powderly, Arrington, Gaston, Wenonah ES, Wenonah H, Lee, Gree Acres, Jones valley, West End
District 8 April Williams 786-0627 960-6257
Schools Wilson, Princeton, Minor, Brown, Bush, Glenn
District 9 Phyllis Wyne Schools: 791-9640; 542-6796
Schools: Wylam, Council, South Hampton, North B’ham, Lewis, Daniel Payne, Jackson-Olin, Carver,
Superintendent & BOE Secretary
Stanley Mims
231-4220
Fax: 231-4315
