Quite often, the Officers of STAR are asked by other STAR members and non-members of the transportation department, "What has STAR done for me?" Here is a partial list of our many, many accomplishments. Remember the actions of STAR not only just apply to our members, but to all employees of the transportation department and other ESP's of the Rogers School District. Example; the extra check (#18) received this summer marked "Miscellaneous" was given to ALL ESP's of the District, everyone benefited, EVEN the Supervisors of the Transportation Dept!  

So the next time someone asks, "What has STAR done for me, where are my dues going?", direct them to this page and then ask, "What have you done me?" 

1. Members successfully voted to form our own local in December, 2004.

2. Passed a law, with the help of AEA, stating the driver of a school bus shall report violators of  vehicles not stopping for the flashing red lights on a school bus to the school. In previous years the driver was held responsible for reporting the incident to the police themselves.

3. Official STAR Charter was signed and recognized in April, 2005.

4. Delegates Libby Crawford, Mike Chaney, Rod and Colleen Snyder attended the AEA's Representative Assembly. Mike Chaney suggested a law be made against Coaches/Band Directors etc. driving school buses. The safety of our children demand an alert, well rested driver.

5. Mike Chaney, Rod and Colleen Snyder graduated from Summer Leadership classes, sponsored by the AEA, July, 2005.

6. Successfully brought to the attention of the School Administration a correction was needed on all driver contracts which would have decreased driver wages.

7. Brought to the attention of Admin that drivers had not been given 30 days to sign their contracts after receiving them, as per school policy. We NOW have that option.

8. Brought to the forefront the fact field trips were not being assigned fairly.

9. Grieved the fact we were being forced to work "off the clock" relating to random drug screens. Won. Drivers are now compensated for their time.

10. Successfully obtained an organizing grant from the NEA.

11. Fought for state compliance regarding the pay of activity drivers.

12. Mike Chaney  was appointed to the AEA/ESP Advisory Board, giving the ESP's of the Rogers School District a voice at the state level.

13. Rodney & Colleen Snyder organized and STAR participated in a rummage sale fundraiser for Carlos Andreas, a bus driver who has ALS, which raised over $1100.

14. Bought an AEA membership for Carlos Andreas.

15. Investigated and found discrepancies relating to the fact the votes and voices of the bus lot were not counted in the last CPPC election. Our votes for a Transportation Representative were never counted, as our votes mysteriously disappeared. Vote within the Transportation Dept was done over.

16.  Exposed a member of Admin to the Rogers School Board, who suggested in a letter to Senator D. Bisbee, he/she was supported by the Rogers School Board regarding anti-employee laws be enacted in the 2007 Legislature.

17. STAR members successfully stopped a law, written by Senator D. Bisbee,  which would have eliminated our 30 minute paid breaks thus throwing our drivers back a tier and for some their medical insurance and fulltime benefits. STAR rallied AEA/ESP members from the whole of Arkansas to call Senator Bisbee, the bill was pulled.

18. Successfully grieved a discrepancy relating to the fact the 4%-4% retroactive pay was not figured correctly. Thank Richard Cosper,  STAR and the members of the School Board when every ESP in the District received an extra check marked miscellaneous in June.

19. Supported a bill in the 2007 Legislature that would have let drivers drive, eliminating coaches etc from driving school buses for safety reasons.

20. Supported a bill in the 2007 Legislature calling for an ESP Fair Dismissal Act, which would have enacted the same rights to ESP's as to those of teachers.

21. Organized and participated in the "Walk to D'Feet ALS Fundraiser", with transportation employees walking and donating over $500 to the cause.

22. Mike Chaney was "elected" to a seat on the AEA Board of Directors, thus giving a voice to the ESP employees of the Rogers School District.

23. Sponsored and presented Safety Awards to the Lowell Police Department and members of the Eastside Watchdogs to promote the safety of our children.

24. Six members attended and four members graduated from the Summer Leadership Conference held in Hot Springs.

25. A former STAR member and special needs driver, was responsible for obtaining a "Tithe of the Tithe" in the amount of $1200 from his church for former driver, Carlos Andreas.  God Bless George Lent.