explained that integrating tiers in transportation gives drivers time to complete their run and make it back to a campus for the next group. “It’s important that they’re spread out because we won’t be able to transport everyone all the same time,” she said. Timothy Logan, the assistant director of transporta-
tion at Garland, noted the higher percentage of student riders served than in neighboring districts. Despite the district enrollment numbers remaining steady, Garland’s transportation has increased ridership by 4,000 students since last school year. Two-hundred and seventy miles south of Garland lies Goose Creek Independent School District, which runs a true three tier-system. Rick Walterscheid, the director of transportation, said the district was running a four-tier tier system with some mid-day routes. But his staff was able to better utilize technology and its available re- sources to reduce to a three tier system. “We found ourselves just like most districts, in a quan-
dary of how to reduce budget and how to maximize efficiencies,” he shared of originally moving to four tiers. “Not just [in] one area, but all areas of the district.” One of the tasks transportation looked at originally was
bell schedules and what made practical sense when rout- ing for 36 schools, with the goal of maximizing each run. He said running four tiers became very efficient, citing a shortage of school buses and no funds to purchase more as a main reason for going to four. Elementary routes were split into two distinct groups as a result. “Where things got tricky, a few years ago we were
asked to reexamine some of the high schools because they didn’t necessarily coincide with total credit college classes,” he said. A new challenge was starting school no later than a certain time and leaving school no later than a specific time, while also retaining the same number of required instructional minutes during the day. Using Transfinder, Walterscheid said his staff was able
to build out a three-tier system. “You can’t set routes today and never reexamine them, you have to constantly reexamine them,” he said, suggesting that school districts should consider the lengths of their average routes, the average ride time length versus that of the furthest route. “Never stop routing,” he advised. “Always reexamine,
always look at bell schedules. Always look at which cam- puses are going to which school and start that narrative with administrators. Start that narrative with the finance department. Start this discussion with the community as you move forward with this plan.” He also suggested determining the impact on walk
zones when bell times change. “Is there more traffic on the road during that time when we pick them up or drop them off? And does that time need to be looked at? Over-
Annamarie Banner, the transportation director of Garland ISD, takes a selfie with her team in the background as they work on a tablet. Pictured in the mirror from left to right: Camesha Young, route supervisor; Timothy Logan, assistant director of transportation; and Jazmyn Ware, route supervisor.
Advocating for Transportation’s Voice
When discussing rolling out new technology, Annamarie Banner at Garland ISD in Texas said getting support from the administration, principals and campuses is key. “If you don’t have their support, you’re not going to have a smooth transi- tion,” said the director of transportation. Banner added that it is important to forge positive relation- ships with decision makers and to start the conversations early. When advocating to administration, Rick Walterscheid,
director of transportation at Goose Creek ISD also in Texas, said it’s important to make the department relevant. “It’s through that relevance, that you’re going to get that cooperation,” he said, adding that his advice is building out routes and showing administration how the bell times will actually work with the routing schedule. “And then lastly hire good and train great,” he said. “Set an
expectation of no late buses and follow it up with GPS. …Be creative in your profession because that’s how you’re going to get noticed.”
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