Here’s a pictorial overview of award winner Jim Beekman, with details on how he spearheaded increased efficiency and multi-million-dollar savings at Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools.
PHOTOS: <I>School Bus Fleet</i>’s 2014 Administrator of the Year
Beekman galvanized the Orange County Public Schools transportation department and implemented numerous improvements, which led to increased efficiency, multi-million-dollar savings and high staff morale. The department runs one of the nation’s largest public school bus fleets, with about 903 route buses transporting 72,000 students daily.
In the 2012-13 school year, the Orange County transportation department measured 100% of its route buses for idling, which resulted in reducing idling time from 520.7 hours per school day to 442.5 hours per school day.
In October, Beekman left Orange County Public Schools to take on a new challenge. He was recruited by Hillsborough County (Fla.) Public Schools to serve as the district’s new general manager of transportation. Hillsborough transportation has had its share of difficulties recently, but Beekman is optimistic about the potential to make improvements there.
For his efforts to effect positive changes in school transportation throughout his career, School Bus Fleet named Jim Beekman its 2014 Administrator of the Year.
Beekman (right) became the 41st pupil transportation leader to receive the Administrator of the Year award, which SBF Executive Editor Thomas McMahon presented to him at the National Association for Pupil Transportation Summit on Nov. 10.
Beekman started in the pupil transportation industry in 1983 as a diesel mechanic for the School District of Osceola County (Fla.). He moved up the ranks at Osceola, eventually becoming director of transportation. He later moved to Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools.
One of Beekman’s primary tools for driving change in the Orange County transportation department was key performance indicators. The department began tracking items like bus on-time arrival, idling, average bus occupancy, road-call rate and staff overtime.
The transportation changes that Beekman spearheaded at Orange County yielded impressive savings. For example, an anti-idling initiative, along with utilizing biodiesel and purchasing more fuel-efficient buses, led to an overall reduction of 151,788 gallons of diesel fuel in the 2012-13 school year. The economic benefit was a fuel cost avoidance of $538,847.
Beekman (left) doesn’t get to play golf often, but when he does, he enjoys playing with his three sons.