A World of Budget Cuts

I don't really know what the political world has to say about today's economy.  At this time of the year, we're often too busy to watch the news. 

I do know quite a bit about how the economy and last year's contract negotiation impact our business.

In a world where not everyone can find a good job and banks are less likely to lend money, we too are faced with budget cuts again this year.  We've been making budget cuts fairly continuously for the last twelve years.

As a result, for the first time since I've worked here, we've been forced to make tough staffing cuts for budget reasons.  It's not the first time we've eliminated staff positions; in the past we've reduced staff by opting not to replace people leaving for other employment and we've never been afraid to eliminate substandard employees.  This year, we've cut people and we've cut hours.

Still, with a successful start to the school year, the cuts we've made have not impacted our committment to safety and to customer service.

Though there are fewer people, there is not less work to do.  Everyone still needs to get home everyday in safe vehicles.  Each of our staff members has had to assume more daily work in order to continue to serve our community well.

This year, we're trying something new.  Each person working in the office has a series of tent signs she will use to indicate availability.

When "Open For Questions" the staff member is fully available to assist with route questions, trip directions, copier use, and other general questions.  When the sign reads "Please Do Not Disturb" the staff member is working on a task requiring greater than average concentration, and we ask that you really "Do Not Disturb" the staff member (even a quick "hello" can sometimes result in distraction).  When the staff member leaves her desk, she will incidate on the "Back At _____" what time she will be back.

Each staff member has been assigned specific hours during which she must be "Open for Questions."  Jami's "Open" time is in the early morning and midday.  Rachel's "Open" time is after 2 pm.  Shelley's "Open" time varies based on which week is a payroll week. 

We ask that our remaining staff honor the new sign requests.  We will modifiy the "Open" hours as needed.

Oh That Nasty Language!

We continue to receive reports about nasty language on secondary buses. 

Please encourage your students to use appropriate language while riding the bus, including when they ride for sports and activities.

Bus drivers have a difficult time "catching" students using inappropriate language.  The bus design contributes to the problem; the engine is usually just to the right of the bus driver and the acoustic ceilings draw noise up and away from the driver to the ceiling of the bus (important for bus drivers trying to hear traffic and train noises outside the bus).  Generally, older students sit in the rear of the bus, and, generally, older students have the least regard for appropriate language.

When your student is having a problem or feeling stressed by the language or conversation on the bus, call us.  While we may have some difficulty simply executing a discipline referral for misbehavior when the bus driver has not witnessed the behavior, we are happy to take a report and submit it to the school for additional assitance. 

Tomorrow, we expect students to hear from one of the high school administrators about language on the bus.  We hope it helps!

Safe Driving!
Kari

Week Two Tasks: Evacs and Seating Charts

Bus Evacuations
Today marks the beginning of the offical school bus safety training schedule.

We lead off with evacuations at the High School this morning at 9:10.  All students load the buses.  Drivers explain the evacuation process, and the students proceed to evacuate using the rear emergency door of the bus.

The process is something of a joke for High School students.  They don't understand the potential for dangerous events on a school bus.  Though they may not take the evacuation entirely seriously, they are getting practical experience getting off the bus quickly and safely.  They also have the opportunity to witness the operation of a two-way radio and the location of the belt cutter. 

While students see the drill as an escape fom the daily routine, for bus drivers it's something else entirely; an opportunity to practice a simple life-preserving process with students.

We're glad our district performs the drills regularly.

Seating Assignments
Behind-the-scenes, drivers work hard the second week of school to complete Seating Charts.

Our contract with the school district requires assigned seating on buses.

Assigned seats:

• mean every student has a place to go, so loading occurs more efficiently than when they have to search for seats;
• keep students separated by age and experience so the youngest students are not socialized with the older students; 
• help keep the bus in better repair; when a student is "responsible" for a seat, s/he tends not to tear tape or poke holes in the seat;
• separate students who have trouble sitting near each other;
• assist the bus driver with student recognition and route planning.

We follow some basic "rules" for seating charts.  For example younger students must be seating in the front of the bus (both Kindergarten and sixth grade students qualify as "younger" students).  Middle School students must sit forward of seat 16; High School students must seat behind seat 16.  In certain circumstances, students are exempt from being assigned a seat.  One such circumstance occurs when a large number of students is on the bus less than ten minutes (Middle School students who live in large housing developments near the High School qualify).

As always, we encourage parents to call when there is an issue with a seating arrangement.  We'll make changes to accomodate your requests and help your student have a better ride to and from school.

Safe Driving!
Kari

And 2010-11 Begins with Tags and Bags

Every year we're excited when school starts.  Tired too.  The last few weeks of summer, especially the days following Open Houses, are extremely busy at any bus company.  They are especially busy at our company because of the extra things we do for students.

Over the years, I've observed problems specific to school transportation.  The biggest obstacle to any transportation program involving students is the youth and inexperience of our youngest riders.  These five-year old first-time commuters face a daunting challenge the moment they approach the bus for their first bus ride:  the huge stairs lead them on board a vehicle driven by a Stranger.  They're brave little souls; not many of them hesitate very long when it's time to take those huge steps.  Of course it helps that many of them participate in our pre-school year Kindergarten Count-Down during which they get an opportunity to take a first ride with their parents and teachers.

We face an even bigger challenge: efficiently transporting these young students to and from home without flaw when we don't yet know their names and haven't yet mastered which one belongs where. It would be enough of a challenge if every student went to the same stop every day, but they don't.  Many of them have home and daycare options and others have Mom's home and Dad's home options. 

There was a breaking moment for me.  I was in the loading zone at an elementary school one afternoon and a young man didn't know what to do.  He wasn't sure which bus to ride, we didn't yet know his name, and he looked scared.  I asked him his name and he started to cry.  It was all I could do not to sit down next to him and cry too.  We found out who he was and got him on the correct bus and he made it home safely - as is usually the case.  But I left the loading zone determined to find a better solution, and we have.

Each of our Kindergarten students will receive a tag tomorrow in their Kindergarten classroom.  On the tag is a picture of the student requested last spring at Kindergarten Round-Up and again at Kindergarten Count-Down.  The student's first and last name, teacher's name, drop-off location, and bus number also appear on the tag. 

Since we've been using the tags, we've increased our success with Kindergarten students a hundred fold.  Now when I need to communicate with one of these small people, I take a quick peek at the tag.  Addressing them by name immediately calms their fears.  After all, they must think, "If she knows my name, she probably knows where I go."  We haven't had anymore tears in the loading zones!

This year, we're extending our tag system to older elementary students.  For the first week of school, students will be required to wear a tag with their pm bus number on it.  The bus drivers will check the tags as they enter the buses.  Any student without a tag will be sent to an adult for bus number verification before entering the bus. 

And if the tag is incorrect?  Well, at least when we look up the student's name in our database we will all know the student is on the listed bus or no bus at all.  Makes things far more organized and simple at the end of those first days of school.

Our middle school students are each assigned a Magic Moments teacher, and that teacher will have a list of their bus numbers and a map of the parking order.  They're too old for labels, but still confused at the end of the day when they walk out to the loading zone and see 18 buses, all yellow and black.  It's enough to make anyone forget a number!

Our high school students don't really think about the bus until it's time to board it the first afternoon.  We've tried a new process this year; we emailed the school principals a list that can be forwarded to their teachers to check bus numbers near the end of the day - and included a copy of the parking map.

We hope we've covered the bases. 

One final note:  buses will run late the first couple days of school.  There are lots of reasons for it - in the morning parents want to take pictures and give lingering hugs; in the afternoon we spend a little extra time in loading zones making sure everyone gets on the right bus and at bus stops making sure everyone gets off at the right stops.  Please be patient.  We'll get there!

Safe Driving!
Kari