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transportation. Input was gathered from parents, teachers, building administrators, support staff, special education, students-in-transition, student support staff, central office administrators, bus drivers, transportation staff, athletics, community partners, and board members.
By November, the district launched a comprehensive
bid process focused on solving its greatest operational gaps:
• Transitioning to a technology-enabled fleet with GPS, safety monitoring, and real-time data
• Implementing dynamic routing software to optimize routes and reduce ride times
• Introducing a family app for real-time bus tracking and communication
• Deploying a continuous training and onboarding plan to drivers and monitors
• Establishing a data dashboard for district leaders to monitor performance daily
• Solving the long-standing driver shortage
The goal was simple: Identify and implement a technology-led, data-driven solution with measurable outcomes to create a safe, reliable, modern transportation system that bolsters student achievement.
Implementation Approach By March, the district had identified a transportation partner and co-created an implementation strategy with clear timelines and key milestones. This was organized in three phases:
Phase 1: Planning & Data Audit • Fully assess staffing levels and fleet needs • Assess facilities & renovations • Conduct a full route analysis • Identify inefficiencies and equity gaps • Engage families, drivers, and school leaders
Phase 2: Technology Rollout • Prioritize partnership launch & hiring initiatives • Integrate technology with SIS system • Establish cadence of communication with key metrics • Introduce tech-enabled buses •Train staff on new tracking apps & reporting • Launch the family communication app
Phase 3: Optimization & Continuous Improvement •Weekly performance reviews with transportation partner •Weekly staff training on bus app tracking and reporting • Fully engage leadership team on weekly feedback • 30-day stakeholder feedback on implementation/ progress
• Align district practices to transportation guidelines Stakeholders Feedback
• 97% of stakeholders rated overall service as reliable • 96% of stakeholders rated overall OTP as consistent • 91% of stakeholders rated modern technology as positive
Student-Centered Outcomes The modernization directly improved student
experience: • Transportation absences decreased by 86% (from 2024-2025) driven by modern, reliable transportation
• The graduation rate reached a decade high of 88.6% • Student attendance increased by 2.5% district-wide • Student extracurricular competitive access increased 150+%
Transportation became a lever for access, strengthening students’ ability to fully participate in all program activities and significantly improving the overall student experience while meeting and/or exceeding district goals.
Stakeholder Perspectives Superintendent
“Zum’s proven track record, along with its enhanced communication and equity-focused decision making, has greatly benefited our students, families, and drivers. In Kansas City, we appreciate their commitment to safety, efficiency, transparency, and student- centered, technology-led, and data-driven approach. It has been a game-changer for KCPS and our community.
Dr. Jennifer Collier Superintendent | Kansas City Public Schools
Learn more at
www.ridezum.com. Ridership Route cancellations School Satisfaction Driver Shortage 4800 25/daily 35% 30 9100 0/daily 97% 0 +89% +100% +62% +100%
Results & Impact (at-a-glance) Quantitative Outcomes
Metric On-time performance Before No Data After 95% Improvement +95%
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