Hill explained HCPS operated 10 van routes, but a new
Florida rule that took effect last December allows Class E license holders to operate certain small school buses, including qualifying Type A models with seating for no more than 15 occupants and a GVWR below 26,001 pounds. FAPT endorsed the regulatory change, which gives districts greater flexibility. Hillsborough replaced its vans with Type As, a welcome change that Hill said is safer for the students. “I don’t think contracted services will ever go away be-
cause [those providers] provide a level of service to some of our kids that you can’t provide [in-house],” she said, citing the example of students living in an apartment complex or those who live out district boundaries. Despite operating one of the largest courtesy trans-
portation programs in Florida, Hill said funding for the service is not reimbursed by the state. HCPS continues providing the service so students attend its schools.
Student-Focused One of the district’s most visible examples of student-
centered transportation is the mobile reading classroom. The vehicle travels to schools in partnership with the HCPS literacy department, distributing books to children and encouraging reading. It made more than 200 visits
last school year, prompting the need for an additional bus. Hill also relayed a story where, she, Norris and a transportation supervisor walked a student home from the bus stop to make sure the child arrived safely. The student had just moved from out of state and got off at the wrong stop the day before. Jim Beekman first met Hill when he took over HCPS transportation in 2014, arriving at a time when the de- partment was facing significant operational challenges. He said Hill quickly stood out. Beekman, now a principal consultant with K-12 transportation consulting firm District First, recalled Hill working as the routing manager, a role that allowed her to draw on experience that already spanned multiple sides of school transportation. Beekman said Hill demonstrates an unusual ability to maneuver between big-picture strategy and the details of individual transportation problems. During their time working together, Hillsborough reduced routes, reworked bell schedules and improved on-time performance. After school start times were adjusted to provide more operating time between tiers, Beekman said the district’s on-time arrival rate increased from 79 percent to 97 percent. Hill and her routing team were heavily involved in that work.
68 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026
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