SPECIAL REPORT
KPI’s Take On New
Meaning When Transporting Students in COVID-19 Era
Written By Debbie Curtis W
Andy Madura uses video conferencing to remain in contact with his drivers and staff at Lake Region Schools in Bridgton, Maine. Technology is being used as a tool to drive employee retention, which during COVID-19 has become one of the most important key performance indicators for transportation operations.
ith schools facing increasing costs due to COVID-19, transportation directors need to provide accurate data for a positive impact on transportation budgets. Key
performance indicators (KPI’s) have long been used to evaluate efficiency and areas where improvement is needed, but they may play an even more vital role during the pandemic. Having a handle on KPI’s, some of which may differ than those used before the pandemic, could be an asset in meeting the ever-changing rules of transporting students in the COVID-19 landscape. Tim Ammon, co-owner of Decision Support Group and a co-manager of the industry’s School Transportation Aligned for Return to School (STARTS) Task Force, noted that what was deemed vital data last year at this time or even seven months ago may no longer be relevant. “Things are changing too fast. We need to use data to
understand our operation, but I don’t know if it’s going to be important to measure [passenger] capacity for the next eight months,” he opined during a STARTS Task Force webinar last month. Instead, he suggested that operations must ask themselves what information they need to be much more aware of and how they can utilize data to make their service plans as flexible as possible amid all of the uncertainty.
Using Data For Traditional & New Challenges Andy Madura, the director of transportation for Lake
Region Schools in Bridgton, Maine, said one of his main KPI challenges this school year is keeping his operation fully staffed, although the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Maine remaining low. He has been keeping in touch with his entire staff throughout the summer, hosting discussions, address-
16 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2020
ing concerns, and keeping everyone updated on the guidelines both the state and district are developing. “We’re being transparent and honest about what
we can and can’t do as far as the CDC and health de- partment guidelines,” he said. “The drivers have been practicing driving with face shields and other safety equipment so they are as prepared as possible for when school starts.” Meanwhile, last spring, the Salem-Keizer school board
in Oregon implemented a transportation investment package, which approved funding for another trans- portation site and the purchase of 195 new buses over a three and a half year period. A study also compared the district’s pay rate for drivers and mechanics to other neighboring school districts and the local transit author- ity. “We used our database of information to get raises for most of our staff this year,” said Michael Shields, who recently retired as transportation director. Still, traditional KPI’s are at play. Madura employs 40
drivers for 30 routes in the mainly rural district. Since it can take up to a half-hour to get to some students home, Madura has purchased more buses. “We had a dealer nearby with buses on the lot which we
were able to obtain,” he explained. “We have the summer to get them ready, and we’ll need them if the superinten- dent’s plan to transport our elementary and special needs students to school five days a week can be implemented.” He said he looks at KPI data all the time to help forecast
mileage and other expenses. “With social distancing on the horizon, we’re very conscious of the actual number of seats being used,” he explained. “We use Transfinder and had been using it even before the state [department of education] bought the program for every district. We knew our actual load counts before school ended in
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