The Case for Continuous The Case for Continuous Improvement: A - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Case for Continuous The Case for Continuous Improvement: A Improvement: A Comprehensive Review of Comprehensive Review of CMS CMS CMS Student Transportation Operations CMS Student Transportation Operations June 28, 2010 June 28, 2010

SUMMARY of TRANSPORTATION OVERVIEW REPORT Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Student Transportation Operations (CMS STO) Overview Report Includes: � Federal, State and Local Governing Laws and Regulations � Main Business Functions (Internal and Outsourced) � Department Profile and Current Scope of Services � Funding and Budget Detail � Historical Assessments of CMS STO by External Sources � Key Performance Indicators and Benchmarks � Three Year Progress Since 2007 Board Oversight Report � Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) – Constant Endeavor Transportation

CMS STO ALIGNMENT WITH CURRENT BOARD OF EDUCATION GUIDING PRINCIPLES Overarching Guidance for Transportation and Common to All 7 Principles The respective school year’s student assignment plan to include attending school boundaries or program zones defines transportation eligibility for CMS students � Home School � Magnet Programs (full or partial) � Pre-K Programs � Special/Alternative Programs � NCLB and/or MCV Qualifications � Transfer or Reassignment Process For 2009-2010 93% of total population was deemed eligible Transportation

CMS STO ALIGNMENT WITH CURRENT BOARD OF EDUCATION GUIDING PRINCIPLES Principle 6 “ The student assignment plan should be simplified. Relevant costs and benefits of the plan must be carefully weighed, and costs should be reduced if at all possible. Transportation costs and travel time for students should be minimized .” � As a general rule the cost to transport a student to and from school is less expensive and the ride time is minimized if the child resides closer to their attending school. � With business improvement strategies implemented over the past 3 years the total transportation expenses for similar number of students riding CMS STO buses have reduced by an estimated $6M and the average ride time for a student has reduced from 21 to 15 minutes one way. Transportation

CMS STO ALIGNMENT WITH CURRENT BOARD OF EDUCATION GUIDING PRINCIPLES � State general statutes indicate that if pupil transportation services are offered in a school system for students, the services must be offered in totality based on local Board defined service eligibility � In addition, every transportation eligible student must be granted the option of a bus stop within 1 mile of the student’s documented eSIS residence address if the address is 1 ½ miles outside of the attending school � It is critical to note that if a student voluntarily chooses to attend a school other than the home school or regulated assignment, the level of service in the second bullet is not required � CMS STO assigns every transportation eligible student a bus schedule unless the family communicates there is no need for such service. Services will also be eliminated for a student if he/she does utilize the services for a consecutive “10 day” period during the school year Transportation

BOARD OF EDUCATION GUIDING PRINCIPLES FUTURE DECISIONS AND DIRECTION Moving forward with the process of reviewing, revising and prioritizing the current guiding principles, CMS STO encourages for thought be given to the following 2 questions: Question #1 What criteria or parameters should determine transportation eligibility? Transportation

BOARD OF EDUCATION GUIDING PRINCIPLES FUTURE DECISIONS AND DIRECTION Question #2: Are current levels of bus service for CMS transportation eligible students acceptable? These include: � Common bus stops - walk distances up to .2 mile for elementary and up to .4 mile for secondary � Shuttle bus stops – assigned bus stop locations at CMS schools for specified 11 full magnet school students � Alternate Stops – extended services for defined and approved “daycare” stops � Consolidated Stops – a designated and approved location that families volunteer to pick up and drop off their child (strict criteria apply to these stops and use of these stops) � No transportation zones for specific schools � Grandfathered services only for rising 12 graders subject to new school or program related boundary changes Transportation