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TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR PROFILE
STANDARDIZE & INNOVATE
According to Spring Independent School District’s Brian Weisinger, this North Houston student transportation team protects its students by standardizing their bus equipment while also looking at new ways to innovate.
Spring ISD North Houston, Texas
38 Campuses 57 Square miles 800 Students with Special Needs transported per day in 55 buses
special needs, Transportation Director Brian Weisinger discovered that they were using four completely different types of wheelchair tie-down systems. Within a year, the district was able to standardize all of its securement systems.
Now, when drivers and attendants must use a different bus, the same style equipment will be in place, and they will know how to use it. “This simplifies training and falls in line with our philosophy of standardization,” Weisinger said. “All of our buses and specialty equipment, such as lifts, are from the same manufacturer. The ability to standardize all of our retractors and tie-downs makes it easier to conduct operations, training and parts inventory; and most important, enhances student safety.
As Spring ISD either replaces the older buckle and tab Sure-Lok retractors or expands the number of securement systems, they now specify the Titan retractors. The key benefit is efficiency. So rather than a positive locking retractor that is a two-handed operation of release and pull -- the Titan is an auto-locking retractor that is one-handed and has an S-hook for quick attachment to a welded frame member of the wheelchair.
This process of standardization began over a decade ago. Following an operations review of the district’s procedures for transporting students with
Craig Gerold, Sure-Lok’s OEM Business Development Manager explains, “The Titans are generally specified on new bus purchases, but I always try to recommend to any district as they’re buying replacement parts to replace your current parts with the Titan auto-locking retractors. And at the end of the day, the easier we can make things for the driver
An area where Spring ISD was looking for some innovation was in proper securement of O2 bottles that some students required during their bus routes. Weisinger states, “I have heard of drivers strapping them into seat belts, wrapping them up in towels, wrapping them down with a regular seat belt. I’ve heard of them putting them in little plastic bins or overhead compartments.” What Spring ISD knew was that oxygen tanks are potential missiles. Pressurized gas in a metal container of that shape and size posed a risk to everybody on board in the event of a sudden stop or collision. Weisinger adds, “While transporting oxygen is necessary for the well-being of certain students, it can be a risk factor if not properly and securely transported. Not only is oxygen an accelerant, but the container could also become a projectile if the bus stopped suddenly or was involved in an accident.”
and the aide, the better chance we have that they’re going to secure the child properly.” Weisinger adds, “If for some reason, a student’s mobility device is not secured properly during boarding, the device will self-adjust. That is comforting to know.”
See Us At Booth # 100
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WWW.SURE-LOK.COM/GO2 WWW.SPRINGISD.ORG
Sure-Lok’s Gerold comments, “Brian Weisinger is a very forward-thinking Director at Spring ISD. He now has a GO2 in every bus that transports a child with an oxygen container. And because the district has a constantly evolving enrollment, he also has one on the shelf in the shop for the possibility that he could receive an additional student the following day that requires an oxygen bottle.”
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