By Travis Wilson

Normandy fourth grader earns People’s Choice honors in national poetry slam

Ndeye Biteye’s date with poetic destiny was derailed by (guess what) COVID-19, but through the wonder of technology, the fourth grader still was able to wow the nation.

The Jefferson School student received the People’s Choice award for her performance in the America

SCORES Our Words Our Cities interactive national poetry slam. Biteye received the award at a socially distanced ceremony at Better Family Life, an America SCORES program facilitator in St. Louis. Biteye was one of 14 elementary-age students participating in what became a virtual contest. She performed at the regional level in Chicago earlier this year, where she Photo courtesy Normandy Schools Collaborative was selected for the Ndeye Biteye performs her poem, “Floating,” at the Our Words Our Cities Midwest Regional Poetry Slam in national competition Chicago. Biteye is one of 14 youth participating in the national competition. to be held in Washington, D.C. But COVID-19 moved the Our Words Our Cities is an America SCORES competition online, where the organizers program, an after-school initiative locally supportleft it up to the public to select the winner. ed by Better Family Life. BFL provides after school Biteye’s performance of her work, programs in the Normandy Schools Collaborative “Floating,” is featured on the Our Words through the 21st Century federal grant. Our Cities website.

www.treesbywoody.net

Northwest Views:

New Ride and Abide Policy will help provide a better experience for Metro Transit riders

By Kevin Scott

The safety and security of our region’s public transit system has taken another significant step forward with the implementation of a new Ride and Abide Policy. Developed in collaboration with regional leaders and law enforcement partners, our new Metro Transit policy is an important tool that allows us to suspend the transit privileges for individuals who repeatedly engage in prohibited conduct on the Metro Transit system or whose behavior is determined to be unacceptably offensive or serious.

While serious incidents and crimes on our system are rare, they do occur, and a thorough analysis of the crime data reveals the majority of these more serious incidents result from the actions of a very small number of individuals. Now we can directly address those violators through the new Ride and Abide policy. The focus is not to address minor offenses, like eating on the train or not validating your ticket. This new policy puts individuals who engage in serious, unacceptable behavior on alert that their behavior will not be tolerated.

While we will determine the length of suspensions of transit privileges on a case-by-case basis, certain criteria will apply to all. For the first offense, the suspension period will range from one day to six months. Anyone committing a second offense will face a suspension period of more than twelve months, up to a permanent suspension of transit privileges. A suspension in excess of twelve months for the first offense may be issued if it is determined the individual poses an immediate and serious threat to the safety of the Metro Transit system. If an individual returns to the Metro Transit system during their suspension period, then the individual may be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.

We are already enforcing the Ride and Abide Policy. In fact, five individuals currently have their transit privileges suspended for conduct that includes major property damage, assault and disorderly conduct. Any passenger whose transit privileges are suspended is entitled to a review, and is informed through a written notice that includes a description of the conduct that led to the suspension and instructions for requesting a review.

We firmly believe this new policy will help us deliver on our commitment to continue to operate a safe transit system that provides millions of trips each year. Safety and security is our top priority every single day. We want our riders to enjoy a safe, comfortable, and convenient transit experience on Metro. To achieve that, we expect everyone who rides Metro Transit to follow the Passenger Code of Conduct. That is a reasonable set of rules and guidelines that reinforce respecting their fellow riders. Through mutual respect and compliance with this expectation, together we can create a positive and comfortable transit community.

Kevin Scott is General Manager of Field Security at Metro Transit.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

Home Builders Association donates $15,000 to Habitat for Humanity St. Louis

On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2020 HBA President Bill Wannstedt (Consort Homes) (left) presented a $15,000 donation to Deirdre Schaneman, resource development operations manager for Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis (HFHSL).

The donation will be used to support Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis’ 2020 build program. The funding will play an integral role in helping HFHSL reach its goal of building five new homes in the La Saison neighborhood and five new homes in The Gate neighborhood, both in south St. Louis City. Once the homes are completed, they will be purchased by hardworking, low-income families who will perform 350 hours of sweat equity to qualify for their purchase, and take on a 30-year, affordable mortgage payment.

The HBA is a local trade association of more than 600 member firms representing the residential construction industry. The Home Builders Charitable Foundation, the HBA’s charitable arm, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance to people or organizations with special shelter needs.

Submitted photo

DESE recognizes Normandy Transportation with Exemplary Maintenance Award

Photo courtesy Normandy Schools Collaborative

The Normandy Transportation department has received the DESE Exemplary Maintenance Award. Shown here are (from left), Bus Drivers Deshell Pace and Jeffrey Miller, Benita Weaver, Director of Transportation; Valerie Stokes, Safety Supervisor; and Bus Driver Dana Woods.

The Normandy Transportation department recently received accolades from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for its dedication to maintaining our district’s buses with the Exemplary School Bus Maintenance Award.

“School bus drivers are often the first face a student sees and the last one before returning home,” said Dr. Phil Pusateri, Normandy CFO & Assistant Superintendent of Operations. “We count on them to safely transport our most valuable assets to and from our schools. We appreciate the work bus drivers do and congratulate them on this fantastic honor.”

DESE awards this honor to districts who have 90 percent or more of their school buses pass the Missouri State Highway Patrol spring school bus inspection on the first attempt. The award also recognizes programs whose buses have met these criteria in five year increments.

Normandy is currently looking for dedicated and dependable individuals to join its award-winning transportation department. The district has increased starting pay for candidates, and provides training and generous benefits to drivers. To apply, visit the Job Opportunities page at www.normandysc.org.