greatest difference for students. Transportation is an important part of that strategy.


Families need confidence that their children can get to school safely and reliably. When transportation is de- pendable, it supports attendance, strengthens trust with families and makes our schools more accessible. As we continue to adapt to changing enrollment patterns, we’ll continue looking for ways to deliver excellent service while operating efficiently and responsibly.


Transportation as a Strategic Function STN: What surprised you most about student trans-


portation once you began overseeing it? Chait: The scale and complexity. Every day we’re


coordinating thousands of students across a district that spans more than 700 square miles. It requires constant coordination, planning and communication. Beyond scale, the complexity of operating approxi-


mately 1,300 school buses, including about 250 electric school buses sourced from multiple manufactur- ers running across roughly 1,400 routes and serving about 28,000 students daily. The district provides free, universal transportation to all students through its Transportation for All initiative, removing socioeconom- ic barriers to access. All buses are equipped with GPS technology, allowing parents and administrators to track buses in real time through a Parent Portal, supporting both safety and operational reliability. Most importantly, what continues to stand out to me is the dedication of our transportation employees. They are often the first district employees a student sees in the morning and the last before they return home. They play an important role in creating a safe and welcoming experience for students every day. STN: Many people think of transportation simply as a cost center. From your perspective, what value does an effective transportation department create for students and the district? Chait: Transportation is a student service. It removes


barriers to learning. Reliable transportation helps students arrive safely,


consistently and ready to learn. It expands access to educational opportunities and supports students with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness and others who rely on transportation to attend school. When transportation works well, it builds families’


confidence in the school system. STN: What transportation performance metrics do you


personally pay the most attention to? Chait: Safety remains our top priority. Beyond that,


we monitor ridership, on-time performance, service reliability, ride times, staffing levels and customer re- sponsiveness. We also track data that tells us whether our transportation system is helping students consistently access school.


No single metric tells the whole story. We look at the


overall experience for students and families and contin- uously identify opportunities to improve. STN: Is transportation discussed primarily as an oper-


ational department or as part of academic strategy? Chait: It’s both. Transportation is certainly an oper-


ational function, but its impact reaches well beyond operations. If students cannot get to school consistently, they’re missing instructional time. Reliable transporta- tion supports attendance, engagement and equitable access to educational opportunities. That’s why transportation is part of broader conversa-


tions about student success. STN: LAUSD faces budget pressures and declining


enrollment. How do you balance the need for fiscal responsibility without reducing transportation access for students who depend on it? Chait: Our responsibility is to be good stewards of


taxpayer dollars while maintaining essential services for students. We continuously evaluate routes, schedules and op-


erational practices to improve efficiency, but our focus remains on protecting student access. Every decision starts with what’s best for students while ensuring we’re operating responsibly and sustainably. Small operational improvements can add up over time,


allowing us to better serve students while managing costs responsibly. Additionally, communicating the work of other govern-


ment agencies can provide significant resources to our students. For example, LAUSD also partners with LA Metro to provide TK–12 students a free GoPass for unlimited rides on Metro buses, trains, and 17 additional regional transit partners across LA County. The GoPass extends free mobility beyond the school bus system itself. STN: Are there investments in transportation that save


money elsewhere in the district? Chait: Absolutely. Investments that improve reliabili- ty and communication can reduce service disruptions, improve family confidence and support student at- tendance. When students are in school consistently, everyone benefits. Specifically, diesel fuel price volatility continues to


put pressure on the district’s transportation budget. Los Angeles Unified operates roughly 120 diesel-powered buses, 36 trucks and vehicles, and approximately 220 pieces of diesel-powered equipment, all subject to rising costs. The district’s continued investment in its electric fleet is one strategy for managing long-term cost expo- sure: Switching a diesel bus to electric can save between $73,000 and $173,000 per unit over its lifetime in fuel and maintenance costs. We evaluate investments not only by their direct finan-


cial impact, but also by how they support student access, operational effectiveness and overall service quality.


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