A quick update on the LigerBots story, we got a “no” from the schools on using the bus company we found that could have transported us to St. Louis. As far as I understand, they are simply not comfortable with a company that hasn’t yet been vetted. Now it’s on the kids and parents to get themselves there. We’re working coordinating all the transportation issues now.
Options include a bunch of minivans driving to St. Louis, which shifts the burden from professional drivers to volunteers. Flying remains an option for some, but that still leaves us with issues around transportation within St. Louis.
Bottom line: we’re shifting focus, but still fund raising! And truly, we appreciate the fact that the Newton community is behind us.
Chuck,
Does the whole team go? How many Ligers?
The team and also our pit! The only paid for is that the robot can be shipped … True only a subset of the team MUST be there … but the drive team, exec team and ESPECIALLY the Chairman’s team have to go because we’re there to compete for the overall Chairman’s award!
What’s the range of number of people who need to be transported?
I hope whoever organizes this next year will schedule the deciding local event further from the final – a week is an incredibly short time for making arrangements, etc. even without this tsuris on top of it!
Part of the challenge here is that the type of transit helps determine the number of kids who can travel. Greer is correct when she says that not everyone on the team MUST be there. However, the experience is pretty spectacular and we want to open that experience to everyone.
As far as planning goes, that’s unlikely to change. FIRST does offer a bus from New England, but because it drives straight through our kids, by rule, are not allowed to take it. Newton rules require trips over a certain length to have an overnight stay.
Would the School Committee consider an overnight bus with 2 or more professional drivers? It might cost more, but could offer the rested driver alternative that the Committee seeks.
Too bad fats Pellegrini isn’t alive he had a couple of buses, I believe. Is this a case where the school committee is too gun shy allowing a bus driver take the kids due to the Oak Hill dilemma from years ago? Whats the real issue….money??
Chuck – would FIRST be open to the Ligerbots paying the difference between straight-through versus stopping overnight? If so, would it be possible to arrange?
Ligerbots coaches, parents and students are working with the school department to ensure that transportation is arranged. They are also working on a longer-term strategy for ensuring this doesn’t happen again. I’ve been assured that students will go to St. Louis.
Thank you to everyone who has called or emailed. And go Ligerbots!
Very Glad to hear it Margaret. Glad to hear the school committee made it work out. Will you be making a run for school committee again?
Best.
Bill
Excellent news!
Thank you for letting us know the great news, Margaret.
Margaret: Thanks! It’s great to hear that a solution is being worked out.
Everybody: Funds are still needed. You can make a tax-deductible contribution online at http://ligerbots.org/support.php
Take a look at the photos in the LigerBots Flickr gallery to get a sense of what this team can do.
@Billy, yes I plan to run for re-election.
The thanks should go to Asst. Superintendent Cindy Bergan and transportation director Regina Moody who are working to solve this problem, and are doing their best to put a plan in place to make sure this doesn’t occur again.
Also thanks to the coaches and parents who contacted me and others on the school committee. Your passion and time are so appreciated. Go Ligerbots.