there was a statewide school bus driver deficit. “In an effort to maximize school buses that were cur-
rently contracted with the district, NBOE adjusted the bus arrival schedules for 85 percent of the district’s 66 schools to ensure we maximized the buses we already had contracted,” she explained. Staggering arrival times allowed the district to transport 95 percent of students eligible for busing. Contracted buses operated multiple routes. The need for additional buses that were not available because of staffing shortages was greatly reduced. Schools located in the same neighborhoods and networks shared buses. Students who are routed together live in the same areas, reducing travel time to and from school. Additional bus aides were hired for routes as necessary. “The outcome of a staggered bus arrival schedule was
tremendously successful. As a result, the district con- tinues to implement this routing approach,” explained Dukes-Spruill. “We are able to assign busing within 24 to 72 hours of receiving requests. Identifying qualified contractors has also progressed.”
Multi-modal & Systemwide Solutions Carl Allen advises school districts that routing is a tool to address school bus driver shortages, but the solution
goes far beyond the technology. He is the CEO and cofounder of student transportation consultant 4Mativ, which recommends school districts and state agencies take a holistic approach to student transportation with a focus on equitable access for students, whether that vehicle to school is a school bus or not. Allen, a former director of transportation for Boston
Public Schools and regional vice president for Transdev North America, calls it multi-modal service. It seeks the full spectrum of student mobility options, including school buses, transit, vans, passenger cars, even walk- ing and biking to school. He said the traditional school building, day and calendar have been turned on their collective ears, leading to various options to offer more individualized mobility options. He admits there are safety as well as efficiency trade
offs to consider, as school buses are the safest solution to utilize. But transit can be the most efficient. School dis- tricts need to judge both what is feasible from a school district financial standpoint and what best serves the student in their quest to get to class. “Safety is non-negotiable, but access to opportunity is
what we are trying to achieve,” said Allen. For example, existing school bus routes might result in hour-long commutes for certain student populations,
24 School Transportation News • MARCH 2023
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