“Vendor services, although sometimes convenient, are also facing the same
challenges we are with driver shortages,” she said. “Keeping open communi- cation between the vendor and school system and providing a realistic view on what can be supported is important.” This can also apply to inter-district cooperation. “Working together with other school systems to see if they can provide support has also been a
valuable and appreciated re- source,” Furby noted. “And we return the service when we can.” Decision Support Group’s Ammon added that along with finding and training the right people and taking advantage of available partnerships, a focus on structure is essential. “The demands on school staff right now are extraordinary,” he acknowledged. “As a result, it’s critically important that all of the components that go into selecting a vendor, managing services, and evaluating perfor- mance are well documented and vigorously enforced.” Solicitations for services must
Our mission is to give students with special transportation needs
an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
have clear and detailed expecta- tions and evaluation processes must rigorously assess each provider. Too, contracts must clearly detail both compliance requirements and consequences for non-performance, and oper- ational practices must regularly assess the quality of services. All options considering, most transportation leaders would probably agree that a district-first approach is most desirable. But with the right precautions, the risk of using third parties can be managed. In the process, a com- mitment to assure safe practices should always be paramount. “The number one priority
should always be student safe- ty, and whenever feasible, every student eligible to receive trans- portation should be transported on a yellow school bus,” Seattle’s Maltais said. “When this is not a viable option, work with an alternative transportation service provider whose business model focuses on pupil transportation and ask the company to provide their service metrics and key per- formance indicators for on-time service and accidents.” ●
38 School Transportation News • MARCH 2022
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