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SCHOOL ADVOCACY COMMITTEE Transportation Department Ed Wildesen Director of Transportation 2
"The data on school transportation are clear — the safest way to get our most precious cargo to school and home each day is on a large school bus with a well-trained driver. ... The safety data is even more remarkable when you think about just how many students are riding the bus every day .“ ~US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx 3
Director of Transportation Major Responsibilities and Duties: Supervises and evaluates the student transportation office staff, as well as a combined 134 contractors, drivers, and assistants. Responsible for the legal requirements, training of school bus drivers and all other transportation regulations. Per: COMAR, MVA, DOT, Garrett County Public Schools Board Policies and Procedures . Responsible for bus specifications per Garrett County Public Schools and State of Maryland, inspections, updating and revising routes, and assisting with bus driver evaluations. Prepares and manages the budget and expenditures related to transportation. Recommends the awarding, suspension, or termination of bus contracts. Administers all safety aspects of the pupil transportation program, including bus inspections, driver training, routing, selection of bus stops, and other related activities. Assure COMAR and Garrett County Public Schools Compliance. Makes recommendations on cancellation of schools, delayed openings, etc., as related to road and weather conditions. Evaluates and/or develops programs designed to improve the cost/benefit aspects of the pupil 4 transportation system. Maintains and submits in a timely fashion appropriate records and information.
Director of Transportation Major Responsibilities and Duties: Maintain required records on each bus driver and substitute driver as mandated by the Maryland State Department of Education and other records required by audit. In collaboration with the Department of Motor Vehicles, see that all buses are inspected at least 4 times annually, and all required repairs are made in a timely manner. Insure that each school conducts two bus evacuation drills each year. Secure and maintain an updated and accurate list of the names of students riding each bus. Advertise for bids for insurance on transportation, and all county-owned school vehicles and furnish pertinent information to the official agent for the chosen company. Investigate all concerns relating to school transportation in cooperation with school personnel and interested persons who are involved. Work with bus drivers, contractors, principals and parents to enhance preventative discipline techniques and to resolve discipline issues. 5
Assistant in Transportation Responsibilities and Duties: Assist the Director in the development of the quality of drivers via development and delivery of the staff development program; keeping drivers informed concerning laws and regulations; driver training and licensing. Assume primary responsibility for training of new drivers. Assist the Director in presenting school and bus safety programs, instructional activities and evacuation drills. Work with bus drivers, principals and parents to enhance preventative discipline techniques and to resolve discipline problems. Observe the entire operation of the transportation system by riding and following busses and being present at or near loading areas at the school and along routes and make recommendations for improvements as applicable. 6
Assistant in Transportation Responsibilities and Duties: Participate in the evaluation of all bus drivers. Help maintain current and necessary data on all bus contractors and drivers, time schedules, student rosters, inspections and related issues. Assist in the investigation of all requests and issues concerning transportation. Assist in the development of an up to date set of regulations distributed to all drivers. Assist in the interpretation and application of laws and regulations affecting transportation. Assist with periodic bus inspections. Assist Director in weather related school closing, delays and dismissals. Assume primary responsibility of the program in the absence of the director. 7
Secretary in Transportation Responsibilities Processes payroll for all transportation employees. Schedules buses for instructional activities and trips associated with student studies. Serves as a dispatcher as needed. Prepares information packets and documents for all drivers and contractors. Prepares newsletter for all drivers. Enters students’ name onto bus rosters. Assigns student to established bus stops. Answers questions from parents, bus drivers, contractors, and employees within the school system. Organizes and schedules drug testing for all drivers. 8
Secretary in Transportation Responsibilities Submits state reports, MVA reports and all others as assigned. Assists in approving bus pass requests. Code filed trips and prepare paperwork for payment to contractors for those trips. Enter route description data electronically and be familiar with those routes. Prepare fleet insurance bid. Verify bus manifests accuracy. Verify workers comp is kept current by contractors. Organizes spare buses and keeps daily records and location of spare buses to cover routes. Verifies bus driver physicals are submitted properly. Collects bus inspection sheets prior to school for all buses. 9 Maintain a high level of confidentiality and ethical behavior.
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General Information 63 Buses provide transportation for 3886 students. Buses travel 6000 miles daily. Mileage traveled does not include Hickory Environmental Center, College and Me, I Can Swim Program, Allied Health, Child Care trips as well as other trips associated with study, athletics, band, and other curricular related events. 11
41 of our 63 (65%) buses have students on for 1 hour or more 10 of our 63 (15.8%) buses have students have students on for 50 – 55 minutes 51 of our 63 (81%) buses have students on for 50 minutes or more (all times reflect one way) 12
We currently have 1566 bus stops in Garrett County. To date Mr. Bray has approved 452 long term bus passes. More are sure to follow and this does not take into account the temporary passes issued by each of our schools. We currently have 155 out of areas approved by Pupil Services. Not all Maryland counties honor bus passes or allow students options of multiple buses. At 1566 stops we average 2.5 students per stop. To allow stops for passes (not counting school issued passes) and out of areas the number of students on average would be less than 2 students (1.8) per stop. To allow stops for all passes and out of areas would on average add 10 minutes to each bus. Pushing over 1/4 of our buses past the 1 hr. 15 minute ride to almost 1 ½ hour for 13 some students. (one way)
Best Practices In Place to Enhance Student Transportation Services Combining elementary, middle, and high school students on the same bus to take advantage of the close proximity of the schools and to avoid sending multiple buses SOURCE : Office of Legislative Services 2009 - 2010 Audit 14
INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSPORTATION SAVINGS I. At the conclusion of the 2013-2014 school year, 12 buses will have been deleted over the last 6 years Bus #02 Bus # 59 Bus # 82 Bus # 70 Bus # 45 Bus # 80 Bus # 44 Bus # 24 Bus # 83 Bus # 106 Bus # 14 1 bus will be deleted before 2014-2015 15
II. Extra bus runs that have been deleted Alternative Education 4 Activity bus runs Northern district Northern district Southern district Southern district 2 CTP programs Northern district Southern district I-Tech Program to Garrett College In summary, a total of 20 buses and bus runs have been eliminated. 16
III. Lowered the payment to contractors on spare buses 25%. IV. The current acceptable percentage of capacity for school buses for the industry & auditors is 70%. 46 students on a 66 passenger bus is 70% capacity. It would take 78 buses to transport our 3886 students at 50 students per bus. We have 63. VI. Developing a payroll software in house. To contract the transportation application with a reputable development company it is estimated it would cost up to $30,000. Plus tech support costs for the program. 17
Garrett County Board of Education Fiscal 2015 Proposed Unrestricted Budget Comparison UNRESTRICTED EXPENDTURES by CATEGORY: Fiscal 2014 Fiscal 2015 Approved Proposed Variance % Change Administration $ 1 , 464,723 $ 1 , 490,752 $ 26,029 1 . 78 % Mid-Level Administration 2 , 437,942 2 , 475,384 37,442 1 . 54 % 19 , 501,124 19 , 702,800 201,676 1 . 03 % Instruction Special Education 3 , 645,644 3 , 557,601 ( 88 , 043 ) - 2 . 42 % Pupil Services 670,680 692,721 22,041 3 . 29 % Health Services 434,850 441,923 7,073 1 . 63 % Pupil Transportation 4 , 306,014 4 , 292,578 ( 13 , 436 ) - 0 . 31 % Maintenance of Plant 3 , 755,103 3 , 898,269 143,166 3 . 81 % Operation of Plant 798,891 1,0 56,577 257,686 32 . 26 % 9 , 951,554 9 , 112,374 ( 839 , 180 ) - 8 . 43 % Fixed Charges - Food Services 300,000 300,000 0 . 00 % Capital Outlays 308,260 455,000 146,740 47 . 60 % $47,574,785 $47,475,978 ($98,807) -0.21% 18
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