Posted on 03/28/2006 7:31:36 PM PST by Pikamax
Starved for cash, the New Orleans school district is taking a long shot and hoping to sell its flooded, unsalvageable school buses on eBay.
Some submerged to their roofs in the black flood waters, the yellow school buses were widely photographed in the days after Hurricane Katrina and have become an icon of the city's devastated school system.
School officials acknowledge the sale of the buses on the Internet auction site may puzzle some people used to more traditional school fundraisers like bake sales.
"There's no shame in it. Not one bit," said school board president Phyllis Landrieu. "This is a new mechanism for selling things. I think it's very upbeat what we're doing."
Only 23 of 117 Orleans Parish public schools have reopened. They face a $111 million shortfall - about a quarter of the district's $430 million annual operating budget. The district also has $264 million in outstanding debt, carried over from before Hurricane Katrina.
A total of 85 schools flooded, and wind damaged many more. It took three months for the first public school to reopen. Now, the schools that are holding classes have around 9,500 students, about 15 percent of the 60,000 enrolled before the storm.
The school district plans to put one bus up for sale on eBay this week. If it succeeds, more of the 259 ruined buses will be offered.
"It's an example of how bad the situation is that we would have to come up with this idea," said Richard White, schools spokesman.
The district plans to contract out its student transportation.
You have a brilliant idea.
I think the Smithsonian Museum should acquire one of these buses and put in on display. Let an original unrestored stinky smelly damp school bus be in a museum somewhere as a reminder of how dangerous it is to vote Democratic.
"the yellow school buses were widely photographed in the days after Hurricane Katrina and have become an icon of the city's devastated school system."
the AP can't bring itself to say what the school buses are REALLY an icon of.
Question & Answer Answered On
Q: What are those things across the center aisle? Are those the seat cushions?
Mar-29-06
A: Yes, they are.
Q: How many busses do you have? We might might be interested in purchasing every single one of them. Call Darren (713) 725-0330
Mar-29-06
A: We have 259 Orleans Public School buses. We will contact within a week. Thanks for your interest.
Q: Does the bus come with the first aid kit and fire extinguisher shown in the picture?
Mar-29-06
A: Yes, it does. As IS
Q: Is there any chance that this bus may have been ridden on by any of the famous musical 'graduates' of the NOPS system, such as Juvenile, C-Murder, 504 Boyz, Louis Armstrong, or Delfayo Marsalis? That would certainly increase the value if so. Could it possibly have ever given rides to such other famous NOPS 'alumni' such as B-Stupid or Man Man? Is it possible there may be any leftover drugs or guns or other incriminating evidence left on the bus? Please let us know, it may increase your bids.
Mar-29-06
A: Due to the vintage of the bus it is unlikely that Louis Armstrong and Delfayo Marsalis rode on it. The others may have but we have no recorded evidence of it. As to drugs, this bus was flooded and the mold has probably eaten all of the drugs by now. As to firearms, this bus was flooded and any likely metal objects are rusted by now. But given what it is, with all its limitations this bus is a tremendous value.
Q: Gas or diesel?
Mar-29-06
A: Diesel
Q: Can you please let me know how this item compares to the resonably hand drawn facsimile of the bus? Thank you,
Mar-29-06
A: The auctioning of the Orleans Public School Bus has nothing to do with the reasonably hand drawn facsimile of the bus.
Q: will the purchase be tax deductible?
Mar-29-06
A: Please contact your tax advisor.
Q: Does the money you receive from this auction go to a ''charitable cause''? Or does it go in some individual's pocket? If it's for the Hurricane Katrina fund, it might be a good idea to mention that in the text of your auction.
Mar-29-06
A: All of the funds from this auction goes to the Orleans Public School District.
Q: how deep was the water ??? was the motor under water ???... has anybody tryed to start the bus ???
Mar-29-06
A: The water was about six (6) feet high. Yes, the motor was under water. No, no one has tried to start the bus.
Q: HI is this bid for all of them or just one ? thanks don
Mar-29-06
A: Just this one, bus.
Q: is this a gas or diesel bus?
Mar-29-06
A: Diesel
Q: is this a gas or diesel bus?
Mar-29-06
A: Diesel
Q: Diesel or Gas?
Mar-29-06
A: Diesel
Q: I am somewhat curious as to why these school busses, somewhere around 1,000 of them, were left to be destroyed by Hurricane Katrina rather than used to evacuate the residents of New Orleans to higher ground BEFORE the hurricane struck New Orleans? Sounds to me like total incompetence on the part of New Orleans officials. I was just curious, is all. Thank you in advance for your answer. Cc: Sean Hannity Rush Limbaugh
Mar-29-06
A: FYI - There were 260 buses flooded from Hurricane Katrina. We will not engage in the judgement of competence and/or incompetence of New Orleans officials.
Wonder who was answering the questions??
I am speechless.
So yeah - once you let a perfectly good bus lay to waste and it's no longer operable to transport people there seem to be plenty of other uses for them.
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