It’s no secret that pupil transportation operations around the nation are contending with budget cuts due to the challenging economic climate.

In the last few months, we’ve learned about a variety of efforts that school districts and transportation departments have implemented to alleviate the strain of this circumstance by cutting costs. Poway (Calif.) Unified School District is slated to save $100,000 by the end of this school year under field trip initiatives developed by Director of Transportation Timothy Purvis.  

In February, Seattle Public Schools’ board approved changes to the district’s transportation plan that will start with the 2011-12 school year. The plan creates new neighborhood-based transportation zones aimed at streamlining bus routes for attendance-area elementary and K-8 schools. Officials estimate that the plan will save the school district a total of $8 million.

Most recently, we reported that Clark County School District in Las Vegas is changing the start time for 139 schools, beginning in August with the 2011-12 school year.

The changes were made in response to $411 million in proposed budget cuts. District officials said the changes will result in increased efficiency in school bus routes and a savings of $10 million.

As part of the restructuring of school start times, approximately 200 buses and routes will be cut from the current fleet of 1,500. The change represents a 200-driver reduction out of the approximate 1,350 drivers employed by the district, with approximately 75 positions currently vacant. The district hopes to address most of the cuts through attrition and vacant positions. Maintaining the 200 routes, combined with rising fuel prices, would have resulted in greater costs, officials said.

Finally, by having bus drivers complete more routes during their shift, all drivers will be fully utilized and scheduled in an efficient way. The change will also help reduce the district’s annual bus replacement cost.

I’m interested to learn what practices or efforts you’ve implemented at your operation to cut costs and/or generate revenue. Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@schoolbusfleet.com.

Until next time,

Kelly Roher
Managing Editor