Bus Tires Slashed

[Go Plainedge!]

I received this email this morning...


Sometime last night the tires on ALL of our busses were slashed. We are working as hard as we can to make the repairs. However, there will be NO BUS PICK UP for the high school this morning. We are working as hard as we can to keep the middle school and elementary school bus schedule. Please pass this information on to your friends and neighbors

[techie]

I just came back from the Transportation office.

Just what did these people accomplish?!?
This was just a childish act that has cost the children and everyone too much.Also, kids were getting sick on the buses due to gas fumes, was anything else done to the buses?

I hope there is a video tape for security to catch these idiots.

I urge ALL of you and your friends, if you hear of ANYTHING about who did this REPORT it to the police at once. This not only just crippled busses, what if a tire just had a leak and the driver had kids in the bus? What if it were your child? Your neighbor?

[delilah]

Slashing Bus Tires is a criminal act it is not funny it is sad.
While I do not defend this act in the least I might understand why it has happened.

This summer kids and parents washed cars until their hands bled. Lots and Lots of money was raised and more money was needed when the total amount needed was raised even higher.
Over half a million dollars !!

This week Plainedge Schools was listed one step under FRUAD in the new Hevsie report.
The district's Holiday Gala is tonight at the Manor East.
We have a Vice President that did not step up to the plate when we needed her to.
He got his contract extended and another big fat raise ( and we all know who I am talking about)

People are so hurt and tired and angry .

And now they will give us a crazy inflated number for the repair of the bus tires. Its going to cost $25,000 the first time and $32,000 the second time and a whole new bus fleet the third.

Going to meetings is not a viable solution I have tried for many years.
We have to get the Rich-man packing. He is just not good for Plainedge.

P.S. I don't know who is paying for this gala, but it's really you and me folks ~ If they really cared they could have donated the money so a sport or club could benefit.

[Go Plainedge!]

Delilah:

As you say, I can understand the motive, but find the actions deplorable. Once again, actions taken are at the expense of the children.



WARNING: RANT ahead, proceed with caution -

As far as the holiday party....I am embarrassed for the administration and BOE. I don't know who is paying for this party and personally don't care.

This holiday party is yet another black eye for the BOE and the Administration. The negative message this sends to the community is greater than anyone expected on so many levels. But, as usual, they are COMPLETELY out of touch with the community and will continue to deny that fact. Does anyone actually think at that office or do they leave their brains at the building entrance before they go to work?

Again, I don't care where the money is coming from, the implications are severely negative. With a school district that has been battling budget concerns since last spring and children operating various types of fundraisers this was NOT the year for a holiday party. Who's idiotic idea was this? Let me guess, they thought it would a great idea to thank everyone for working so hard during a tough school year - PUH-LEASE!

I am embarrassed and disgusted with this BOE and Administration. This is the "Me" administration. Pathetic.

RANT over. ;D

[justfacts]

Go Plainedge!

Yes - it's true! there are persons among us the will sink to the lowest, most stupidest things to do!

The Tire slashings and fouling up of exhaust systems that was done by what looks to be more than one person is an indication of the low-lifes that live among us!

If anyone in Plainedge gets a clue as to who's responsible or knows something about this vandalism - they should give this info to the Police - even if it's one of your own!

Meanwhile, apologies from all of us to the Bus Drivers and Students who were put at risk and/or made ill by the foulest of acts by the low-lifes that did this vandalism.

May their days of sanctuary, peace and rest be numbered. May their nights be made sleepless.

[techie]

Vandals can't stop buses at Plainedge schools
BY MICHAEL FRAZIER AND JOSEPH MALLIA
STAFF WRITERS

December 16, 2005, 9:55 PM EST

The students were ready. The schools were open. But the tires on 34 school buses and vans at the Plainedge School District were intentionally flattened, school officials said.

So parents and nearby Levittown School District scrambled Friday morning to help provide rides for about 2,000 students -- some waiting at stops longer than usual -- after Nassau police said vandals had slashed the tires.

"We waited outside for half an hour, and it was raining. I was soaked. And cold," said Tiffany Hufford, 15, a sophomore at Plainedge High School. "If someone was going to slash the tires they could at least have picked a day when it wasn't raining."

If the culprits intended on causing a school closure, they failed, school officials said.

"Fortunately, the Levittown community was able to send us some of their buses," Plainedge Superintendent John Richman said. "It was a bit chaotic, but for the most part parents pitched in to help."

In addition to eight buses lent by Levittown, Staten Island-based Atlantic Express sent four buses to help with pickups for Plainedge's 3,600-student district. There were some late arrivals, but those students were excused, officials said.

Jeffrey Carlson, assistant superintendent for business and finance for the Levittown School District, didn't hesitate to lend a hand. "They would've done the same thing for us," he said.

The punctured tires were replaced hours later and bus service resumed normally by the end of the school day, officials said.

The unforeseen $10,000 spent to replace the tires cut into the district's already strained budget, Richman said.

"This isn't nickel-and-dime stuff. This is way above and beyond," he said. "You always keep some tires, but no one anticipated purchasing tires."

Bus drivers discovered the vandalism early Friday when they arrived at the district's depot at 241 Wingate Dr. in North Massapequa, Nassau County police said. A single tire was slashed on 19 buses and 15 vans, police said, adding that they have no suspects.

Parents confused about buses not showing up as scheduled called the district and asked whether the no-show was part of the New York City transit union's partial strike.

Through an e-mail and telephone alert campaign reaching more than 1,000 homes, the school district told parents that buses had been vandalized sometime Thursday evening, affecting service.

The news was also posted on the district's Web site and the alerts informed of alternate service and the continuation of classes.

Linda Kennevane, 79, was picking up her grandson, Bill Seidler, 15, from high school Friday afternoon despite bus services returning to normal. She said vandalism like what happened was unheard of when she was a high school student in Brooklyn 60 years ago.

"I'm so shocked," she said. "We were more respectful then. If you weren't, the teacher whacked you."

Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

This was stupid to be done and the idiots should be caught and made to pay damages.
Though, the Insurance claim should be the first thing done and the vandals repay the Insurance company and service the community. Thats a nice round number though,.....
What were and where were the security people? Do they still just drive around and chase the kids on Friday and Saturday nights?
With all our purported technology, why don't we just camera everything like the Malls and our Office Buildings do?

[rinx]

Techie wrote:
What were and where were the security people? Do they still just drive around and chase the kids on Friday and Saturday nights?
With all our purported technology, why don't we just camera everything like the Malls and our Office Buildings do?

Techie, the security guards you speak of have to cover all the buildings in the district. There are ony 2 guards to do so for the district. Some of the guard positions were cut from the budget. Which, was another bad move on the admins part.
The cost of replacing all the broken windows, slashed tires and other vandalism have already added up to more then those guards made.
Nice job yet again by the knuckleheads running the show around here.

[techie]

RINX
The post that I had made earlier was in NO WAY a shot at the current Security Team.
My point was to bring out that we have the TECH, we have the EQUIPMET, and it should be used correctly. (by those that can)

I only stated that we can have better security with less people if we USE what we have paid for. The remark of "chasing away kids on Fri/Sat nights" was meant to remind the people that grew up here in the "60's,"70's" and early "80's" that we knew what was going on then,.... and we have to find out what is going on now.

I would like to continue this communication with you to find a way it may help the community. Please feel free to email me and we can speak and find a way to get the community to support and vote for a sound secure budjet that benefits the children first, the taxpayers second and the Administration,.... when the understand what the community wants.

[yruohk]

Interestingly, early that morning, I heard on 2 different radio stations that Plainedge schools were closed due to vandalism. I heard this being announced more than once before 8:30am. How did the stations get info that the schools were closed yet they were not? If it were one station, I would say they must have made an error but two? And then, wouldn't they have made a correction once someone heard and called to say it was not the case? The stations are notified by someone, usually by school officials. Or could the culprits have called? What about several incidents that occurred to other buses in other towns? There was an incident of a driver being slashed. Is it a coincidence that tires were slashed as transit strikes are going on? You say no connection but is there? Or did someone use the strikes as an opportunity to make a statement in Plainedge? Obviously, there's more to this than meets the eye. It took time to slash 32 buses, and the timing was set to happen as security left the area to check other school properties? Someone must have known the movement of the security personnel. Aren't the buses behind locked fencing? I thought that was the case.

[rinx]

Techie -
LOL, Yes I remember all too well what went on back then. We referred to them (security) back then as auggies. In fact, I think security is still using the same cars from the 70's. LMAO!

What the community can do is report anything suspecious they may see happening around the schools to the security office or call police.

Moving on to going tech on security...this should have been done ages ago but it's a waste of time discussing what should have been done.
Moving on....Cameras and the required controllers, software and such can be had these days for a few hunderd bucks for each location. It's time they did it.

[justfacts]

Here's a posting that was just put on the School Site. Hat's off to Richman for being forthright with this and not trying to hide the ugly facts about some of our children in the District.

The participants in this activity are stealing from their own futures and the educational benefits to all other students. The cost of controlling their actions take away funds from others just as if "cuts" had been made in Programs for them. The surveillance equipment costs deduct money available for other various school activities.

Help to get this message across by talking about it at the dinner table and letting all know that no one will tolerate this type of cutup in our District, and where possible, those that do this are despised and disliked by all!

Ed.

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VANDALISM ON THE INCREASE THIS SUMMER - WE NEED YOUR HELP
Posted on Monday, July 31 @ 14:13:10 EDT by jrichman

Schwarting
Dear Parents and/or Community Members,

I am writing to solicit your help this summer in two areas.

To begin, we are experiencing an increase in vandalism on all of our properties. To date, we have had windows and doors broken on our buildings and on our vehicles. The funds to repair these items come from our general fund.

In addition, there is an increase of underage drinking taking place on school grounds in the later hours of the evening, particularly at Schwarting and the High School

We are taking a number of steps to address these issues.

· We have increased our security patrols

· We have asked the 7th and 8th Precincts to increase their patrols

· We are installing concealed and non-concealed cameras

· Our security patrols will now carry digital cameras in their cars and will take photos of those youth that are found to be trespassing.

We have authorized the police department to arrest anyone caught on school premises after hours or engaging in criminal activity. We have also informed the police that we will prosecute to the fullest extent possible.

In addition, we will take whatever disciplinary action the law allows us with regard to those students who attend our school system even though we are not in session.

I know that this sounds harsh, but the students that our security guards have come in contact with have responded in threatening and intimidating fashion. This behavior, along with an increase in the extent of damage going on around the District, must be stopped.

Please speak to your children regarding this message. And, if you live adjacent to our buildings and see activity that should not be taking place (after hours) please call the Nassau County Police Department at 911.

Thank you very much for your anticipated support. Should you have any further questions, please e-mail me.

Dr Richman
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