Atlanta, located about 60 miles away. “Providing transportation for them is a


challenge because it’s not only nearby, but we have children we’re serving through contracted service with other agencies,” said Dyer. “We also partner with our neighbor- ing school systems for some of the longer trips: For example, one school for the blind is about 150 miles away. Tis helps to drive down the costs.” Dyer has also worked with the transporta-


tion department to increase passenger loads, tighten bus routes and reduce the number of stops. Tree satellite bus stops serve nonresi- dent students, and there are plans to add more. Federal dollars make up about 14 percent of Gainesville’s budget pie, she explained, so the cut will definitely impact the district’s hiring decisions for the next fiscal year. “With the exception of special education,


we will look to absorb within where the cut is taken,” Dyer said, adding that the district may draw from the general fund just to maintain current staffing levels within Head Start and Title I programs. Kim Hart, superintendent of Whitmore Lake School District in Michigan, said fund-


ing cuts are nothing new in her small town, or in her state, where the recession hit even earlier than the rest of the country because of its large manufacturing base. “Our revenue has been declining for years,


all across the board. State cuts, the loss of students from low birth rates and now cuts from the federal government will just put another nail in the coffin for small districts that are trying to make it,” said Hart. “Our Title I funds, Head Start funds and IDEA funds — all of those will be impacted.” A shrinking budget coffer means her


transportation department must operate buses that are 10 to 20 years old, yet Hart is quick to credit her eight bus drivers and one dispatcher for doing the best they can with what they have. “Tey do a fantastic job of keeping the


buses on the road. We have 100-percent safety ratings … which is amazing consid- ering all the miles the older buses travel on the back roads,” she added. Hart also had to reduce the number of bus stops and refrain from picking up students at their front doors. In her case, only kindergarteners received door-to-door


service. For the struggling families in her community, bus service is a must for work- ing parents whose job hours don’t always align with school schedules. “We know we have to provide some kind


of transportation because a lot of kids just can’t get there. If we cut it completely, we would lose them,” she continued.


TACKLING THE UNFORESEEN Janet Robinson, superintendent of


Newtown (Conn.) Public School District, has had an incredibly difficult year because of the violence that erupted at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, and now she must contend with federal budget cuts. In her affluent, semi-rural district, she said it is already a challenge to cover special education programs because the district is not fully reimbursed. “As the costs go up, it makes it very dif-


ficult,” she began. “If there is any cut in the reimbursement on special education costs, it would take away from other regular-educa- tion funds. If you have outplacement, then you not only have additional outplacement costs but also additional services including


Outsourcing means savings.


Routings, vehicle maintenance, school bell time management, capital investment, operator training and many other specialties.


Pupil Transportation is a complex business that includes many aspects such as routing, vehicle maintenance, school bell time management, capital investment, operator training and many other specialties. But when you get right down to it, the two most important reasons school districts and private school systems outsource their student transportation are safety and savings. By far, according to independent research, the safest way for children to get to and from school is on yellow school buses. It’s safer than walking, riding a bike, public transportation, taxis and even being dropped off and picked up by a parent. Independent research also tells us that outsourcing can save school districts 10% or more in their transportation costs.


www.atlanticexpress.com 7 North Street, Staten Island, NY 10302 busdev@atlanticexpress.com 1-800-336-3886 ext. 8073


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