Mr. O'Connor's response to my questions (see previous post)came in within an hour of my email. We are truly blessed to have such responsive local government. Thanks Jim!1. There is no funding for signal light so we will continue to use a Police Officer during the appropriate times. 2. I am not aware of any … Continue reading City Response to Today’s Email

Sent today to the city council, police chief, city manager and copied to the school board:Hello! I wanted to follow up on some of the matters we’d discussed at the last city council meeting. I’ll keep it brief:1. Regarding the police officer assigned to direct traffic – is this a permanent measure or will installing … Continue reading Additional Follow Up with the City

Many thanks to all who contributed donations in support of our crossing guards! All were delivered today and were very warmly received. We have some extraordinary people working to keep our kids safe and your generosity means a lot to not only them, but many others as well. Throughout the school year, please continue to … Continue reading Crossing Guard Appreciation

At last night’s city council meeting, the city manager and council provided an update on the issues that citizens have voiced concerns about regarding the ORHS/Civic Center crosswalk. Mr. O’Connor explained that he met this past Friday with the ORSB chair, Mr. Smith and with the ORS Superintendent, Dr. Bailey. Corrective actions are as follows:1. … Continue reading City Council Response to HS/Civic Center Crossing Issues

The following was submitted to city council, the chief of police and the city manager on 10-16-08:I appreciate that Chief Beams has responded to citizen concerns over the crosswalk at the high school and civic center. I understand that the time has been lengthened for the school zone and that the crossing guard’s hours have … Continue reading ORHS/Civic Center Crossing Follow Up

The following was submitted to the city and copied to the school board on 10-6-08 and ran in the Oak Ridger (along with another letter) on 10-15-08.All: In an effort to heighten public awareness, the following has also been submitted to the Oak Ridger. Though addressed directly to the city, any and all feedback is … Continue reading LTEs/Gov’t Correspondence RE: High School/Civic Center Crossing

It is time again to let our Crossing Guards know how much we appreciate their services to Oak Ridge students. We are currently collecting baked goods, hand warmers, hot drink packets, lip balm, etc… to give to them. We are also having the students who use their services sign Thank you cards to give to … Continue reading Key to Retention – Let Them Know They Are Appreciated!

The city is moving forward with implementing red light cameras, but people are still wailing at the supposed injustice of it all. Given all the media coverage of this one little issue, one might think that our very livelihood hung in the balance.For months, the counter-arguments flew. At first, it was all about the fear … Continue reading Yellow Means Slow Down (and it always has)

The 2008/2009 school year in Oak Ridge fully resumes tomorrow and, thankfully, our children will have safer travels to and from school than they did just a year ago. Equal access to transportation for all students, crossing guards, better street markings and signage, and more attentive motorists will undoubtedly result in the risk reduction for … Continue reading School Resumes City-Wide Tomorrow

Although the discussion on crossing guards during the last city council meeting did not occur as I'd announced, I have some news on that front. According to the city manager, the city has decided to place 2 crossing guards at WillowBrook starting next week. The decision of where to place others has yet to be … Continue reading Crossing Guards for 08/09 School Year

I’ve heard from one of our long-time drivers some great things about First Student’s safety practices. The report is from this driver having gone through some of their training already and it sounds as though they greatly exceed our school system's previous standards. One example was that 2 traffic violations on one’s personal record is … Continue reading Positive Report

The following was sent to the OR City Council, manager, chief of police, the OR School Board and all OR school principals:Chief Beams,At least 3 different times this week I’ve noticed that crossing guards were absent (during the appropriate times) at the ORTP/Civic Center and Willow Brook posts. Can you tell me if we still … Continue reading The Case for Crossing Guard Retention

BUSESWe’ve seen some major progress these past few weeks, not the least of which is the ORSB’s vote to fully reinstate transportation via a contractor. A lot of hard work by many individual citizens as well as school officials went into this decision and the end result means that all of our children will have … Continue reading MAJOR PROGRESS!!!!!

It’s not too late to voice your support to your representatives! HB2653 by Hackworth (SB3077 by McNally) passed the house unanimously and has moved to the Senate. As of today, the status listed is: Placed on S. Trans Comm. cal. for 04/02/2008The remaining 4 bills (discussed in further detail here), are seeing some action tomorrow. … Continue reading Update on Proposed Legislation

Government in action - Rep. Hackworth sent me the following, which I believe will be published in this week's local paper. I have a more personal stake in seeing this one through given that it has a direct tie to what led to the end of my crossing guard daysJust as with the bill to … Continue reading House Bill 2653 Goes to Floor This Week

Some significant accomplishments have been made thus far, but there is still much to be done. One group of Robertsville parents is working towards hiring an independent engineer to conduct a safety survey of the Illinois Ave/OR Turnpike area to fully identify all potential dangers and to recommend improvement measures. They are hoping to raise … Continue reading Safety for Oak Ridge Students (SOS) Fund

Rep Hackworth and Sen. McNally (with the help of Bill Nolan and the state attorney) have worked hard to effect change for our children via the proposed legislation outlined below. If passed, these bills will have significant potential for improving the safety of not only our children, but pedestrians throughout the state of Tennessee. In … Continue reading Contact Your State Representatives Today!

There have been some great developments in our town as of late. Tomorrow, 5 new crossing guards will begin working which will bring the total to 7. The new additions will be positioned at the following locations:(2) Illinois and ORTP(1) Robertsville and Illinois Ave(1) Jefferson Ave and Robertsville Rd(1) Fairbanks- for JeffersonYou'll most likely see … Continue reading Exciting Developments for February!

I don't have much time, but wanted to share some great news I just received from Bill Nolan (our local lobbyist). He has been working with Rep. Hackworth and the state attorney and they are introducing 2, possibly 3, pieces of legislation based on some of the brainstorming ideas listed below. If I understood correctly, … Continue reading The state is in session and our issues are being worked!

I have stated numerous times that I believe protecting our children in their commute to and from school is a multi-faceted problem that will require multiple solutions. And while much can be achieved from a variety of resources, the responsibility of implementing the most effective and beneficial solutions (full reinstatement of transportation and the formalization … Continue reading LTE: Time to Commit – Specifically, Please

I've tweaked this site a bit with the hopes of providing more organized information so that people can better support the cause. Most changes involve the sections to the left. Feel free to comment or send more info that I can include.TN lawmakers will be back in session the second week of January through the … Continue reading Revisions to this site

Traffic Accidents for the intersection of Illinois Ave & the OR Turnpike:2003 - 34 accidents2004 - 35 accidents2005 - 30 accidents2006 - 34 accidents2007 - 30 accidents (1 Pedestrian)Cost to transport 15 Rarity Ridge students: $15,000Cost to transport 30 students in the Vanderbuilt area: $0

I've been considering opening this site up a little to facilitate a greater sharing of information. There's some pretty decent traffic coming through, not the least of which are some regular hits by local and state officials. One of my thoughts is to post citizen communications, be they written or verbal, here so that all … Continue reading Who Have You Been Talking To?

November 27, 2007 I've updated the list to include recent suggestions. Any and all are welcome to use this list as a reference point, especially when communicating with elected officials. Note that the City Council has tasked the city manager to bring forth suggestions for change at the next CC meeting on Dec 17th. Email … Continue reading Brainstorming

For two days I was mad. I was mad at God. I was mad at myself. I was mad at you.It hurt so much! I just wanted to stop thinking about it. I felt selfish for wanting emotional support when others were suffering so much more. I needed the comfort of strangers almost as much … Continue reading If I had…If they had…I shouldn’t have…They shouldn’t have…We could have…

I accept God's will and my inability to understand it. I will refrain from public comment for a while out of respect for the family and those affected by this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers continue for the Paine family and all who hurt.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/nov/09/girl-injured-when-hit-school-bus/And then DO SOMETHING.

I am writing to ask for your support in resolving one aspect of the dangerous situations that Oak Ridge children are facing daily in their walk to and from school. You can read details about the specific dangers and what efforts have been made locally at http://www.protectoakridgekids.blogspot.com. With regards to your involvement, I believe that … Continue reading LTR to Rep Hackworth and Senator Kilby

After coming too close to being hit not once, but twice within 10 seconds this morning, my days as a crossing guard are over. While some are willing to risk their children's lives, I am no longer willing to risk mine at the possible expense of my own children.I still have some avenues to pursue, … Continue reading I’m Done

With Fall Break in effect for all but WB, and because the only WB kids I've seen are escorted by adults, I'll be taking the next week off from my normal a.m. shift. In the meantime, if you've been contemplating calling on local officials here's a suggestion if and when you do. Ask them what … Continue reading Taking a Break

16 kids crossed this morning - that's double the average! And 10 of them showed up within 10 minutes before daybreak. Factor in the extremely dense fog we had and you can imagine just how dangerous it was. Some of the reasons I've found that the non-regulars show up include having missed the bus, having … Continue reading Record High Today

The following has been submitted to the OR City Council and the OR BOE. As you will see, progress has been made. But there is still so much more to do! Please continue to contribute in whatever ways you are able. The calls and emails that have been made to local officials are making a … Continue reading Progress!

I've published some of the correspondence I've had in the next two posts to address what the schools and city have done so far. In both strings, all city council and BOE members were included.I've also had lengthy discussions with the ORPD. As of right now, they will not position a police officer at either … Continue reading Updated Info

Most CC and BOE were included in this string-----Original Message-----From: Thomas BaileySent: Friday, August 31, 2007 9:09 PMTrina: The city staff, Principal Mike Baker and I meet Wednesday and determined that a flashing yellow warning light needs to be installed like the high school has this year. This will create a 20 mph speed limit … Continue reading Email Correspondence with Superintendent Bailey

Most CC and BOE members were included in this string.From: O'Connor, James Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007The School Superintendent and I have met to discuss this issue. It was decided that school flashing lights would be a good start to addressing the issue. Dr. Bailey is looking into the Schools funding the installation and the … Continue reading Email Correspondence with the City Manager

Oak Ridge has two very dangerous intersections (Robertsville Rd. & Illinois Ave and the OR Turnpike and Illinois Ave) at which children as young as elementary school age are crossing daily (and have been for the last year) without the assistance of a crossing guard, speed zones or police presence of any kind. Last month, … Continue reading THE PROBLEM DEFINED

As you are all aware, one of our children was struck by a car this week on his way to school at the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Robertsville Road. I believe that this accident was avoidable and I am determined to see action taken to prevent any such incident from occurring again.For the past … Continue reading August 31, 2007 Letter to City Council and the OR School Board