should also be trained, either through a user-guide, letters or videos. Data security is another concern, Somerville said, add-


ing it needs to be encrypted. There should be a careful balance of shared and private information. Somerville references cards carried by students that


don’t list names, addresses or other personal informa- tion but instead provide a number matching the student on the software back-end. For sustained long-term success, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket or in one person. Cross train,” said Somerville. “Have a back-up. Software companies are constantly making improvements. Know what they are and how to use them.” Greg Jackson, director of client success and industry engagement for routing consultant School Bus Logis- tics, knows firsthand how complex and critical school transportation planning can be. With nearly a decade of experience overseeing transportation for Jefferson


County (Jeffco) School District near Denver, Colorado, Jackson oversaw 750 vehicles, 257 bus routes and 305 drivers that transported nearly 14,000 students. Jackson, who was the 2019 STN Transportation Direc-


tor of the Year, brought in School Bus Logistics to help address a pressing issue: Reducing the number of routes to match a dwindling pool of available drivers. A key discovery was unnecessary bus stops where- no students boarded or exited. The issue was mitigated through centralizing stops. As a result, Jeffco shrank by more than 10,000 students with a corresponding drop in per-student funding. Routing costs had to be cut. “If not, you would have to end up letting people go,”


Jackson said. While much of School Bus Logistics’ consultant work can be done remotely, Jackson emphasized providing in-person support that involves meeting with school bus drivers to study routes and take a deep dive to ensure data accuracy. ●


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