A Driver to be Praised and a Child Who Needs Help.

A heroic tragedy took place this past Tuesday in Midland City, Alabama. It stared when the suspect now identified as Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, a Vietnam veteran and retired truck driver, boarded a school bus at about 3:40 p.m. and demanded two 6-8 year old hostages. The bus driver ,Charles Poland, age 66, had been driving students home and upon hearing Dykes commands stood up and place himself between Dykes and the children as they evacuated from the rear of the school bus. Not much detail has been reported on exactly what occurred next, but what we do know is that Poland, in his outstanding bravery allowed at least 21 students to escape from the school bus before Dykes shot him four times. After Poland was shot and subsequently murdered by Dykes, Dykes managed to snatch a single child from the bus and force him into a bunker Dykes had previously made behind his home in the same neighborhood.

 Pictured above is  Charles Poland, the school bus driver.

The child is know to be a five year old boy and who's name will not be released for obvious reasons. As earlier stated, this horrible event happened on Tuesday, January 29th. As of this morning, Dykes and the young boy are still within the bunker. Reports from neighbor, Michael Creel, have lead police to believe that the bunker is "4-foot-wide, about 6-foot-long, 8-foot-deep homemade bomb shelter, with 3 to 4 feet of sand on top of it. If you didn’t know it was there, you wouldn’t [notice it]”. The police and negotiator has been able to keep in contact with Dykes through a PVC pipe sticking out from the shelter to allow air in. Through this same pipe the police were allowed to deliver much needed medicine and some coloring books and crayons to the child inside. While talking to Dykes they were told that Dykes had previously prepared an electric heater and blankets for the boy. 

Pictured above is Jimmy Dykes, the assailant.

The community is in a small uproar over this situation and school was cancelled Wednesday, when the schools reopened on Friday there where grief counsellors provided for the children. Their is a memorial Saturday night at a visitation service, followed by a funeral service Sunday at the Ozark Civic Center for the brave driver, Poland and prayer goes out to both his family and the family of this poor unknown child. 

If you have a moment, keep them in mind. No one knows what it is like for either family but we can all lend them our support. I, as well as the rest of the staff at Hoglund Transportation will be hoping for the absolute best, a quick and safe return of the young boy, and moral support for Poland's family. Check this link for the latest updates.

Thank You,
Haleigh and Hoglund Transportation's staff

Hoglund's 13 in 2013 Program!

     Starting this month Hoglund Transportation is holding a program for its employees!  This program is focused on 13 areas that an average adult can improve on.  As well as providing the employees with gym passes, this event also gives every participating member (13 in '13 is not mandatory but it's recommended strongly) a pedometer, water bottle, and a 13 in '13 journal! This journal provides you with all 13 improvement methods, and allows room to keep track of your progress. Before I go too far, here are the 13 improvements:

• Going to the gym and finding new ways to physically challenge and improve your body.
• Drinking enough water.
• Eating the right amount of fruit.
• Making sure you are getting enough sleep each night.
• Finding a way to challenge your mind.
• Eating the correct amount of veggies.
• Working on stress management.
• Keeping a positive attitude.
• Contributing to the community.
• Making sure that you are not a couch potato.
• Using daily affirmations
• Planning your meals in a healthy way.
  
       Now for the nitty-gritty, during this first week we have used the gym time to help new gym goers figure everything out. For the first two day the employees where introduced to the machines and could randomly hop from machine to machine. The third day we broke any employees who wanted to into groups and did a set work out plan focused on lower body strengthening. The fourth day we broke into groups as well and focused on upper body. Today we are going to do a tabata.

     For those who do not know what Tabata is, I will explain it here. Tabata is where you pick 6,8,10,or 12 different exercises, and do them in 20 second intervals with 10 second breaks. You do 8 intervals of each exercise you choose. This is a super fun way to work out because the Tabata music always has a quick beat and fun music (music can be bought online or through itunes). Starting next Thursday, there will be a Tabata class led by one of our staff members every week.

     Improving yourself is something all of us can work towards! It isn't hard to increase the amount of water you drink by one cup, or snack on an apple on your way to work. The goal of 13 in 2013 isn't to have everyone lose an extreme amount of weight because that's not realistic. The goal is for the employee to notice change, and know they're able to accomplish their goal with a little determination, effort and support.

Check out our Facebook page for update on work outs, what charity we are donating to this month, and healthy recipes and meal planning tips!

Thank You,

Haleigh

Man Wrested off a Loaded School Bus!

In Palestine Texas a man attempted to hijack a school bus that had approximately 14 students on board. The man is said to have been fleeing from a fight he started in a near by apartment complex. The man is thought to be 30 years old and fled onto the bus while the driver was in the isle assisting a student.

The driver immediately removed the man from his bus with the help of two by-standers. One of which was the apartment complex manager and the second was an off-duty corrections officer. Both of the men rushed to the bus drivers aid and together the men were able to remove the man from the school bus and restrain him until the police arrived.

Lucky for us none of the children were hurt and the bus driver is also reported as being uninjured.


To read the full story click here!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Simply an Astounding Generousity

In Portland, Oregon school bus drivers are delivering Christmas presents and cheer to families in need. Starting a few years back a group of drivers wanted to do something for the less fortunate families in the district and they can up with this amazingly generous plan. First they have the families and young mothers place theirs and their child's need on a "giving tree". Then each driver adopted families and underage mothers. The mothers all got a hat and scarf or mittens while the children got warm clothes or a toy. For families the drivers supplied 3 presents per child. Simply astounding.

To watch a short clip on it click here.

In total the drivers have adopted over 200 children! That is a life changing event for those children and families in need. As a parent I couldn't even begin to express my gratitude for someone who made Christmas a possibility for my children. Some people are willing to go above and beyond for others and that is what we strive for here at Hoglund Transportation. Compliance is an obligation; Excellence is a choice.

Happy Holidays and Safe Driving to all!
To read more click here!

Thank You,
Haleigh

An Eye-Opening Training Exercise

In Lawrence, Michigan 80 people participated in a training exercise in which they entered a school bus that had been turned on the side. They also got to experience being in a smoke filled bus. This massive event was sponsored by the Van Buren Intermediate School District (ISD) and Lawrence Township Emergency Services.

Featured above in an image taken from the rear end of the flipped school bus. This shows just how little space there is to move around. This image also provides a message about how tricky it can be to get to the exit if needed.  It should also be noted that the whole these people are shown exiting through is not the roof hatch emergency exit. That whole was made by the fire fighters who were able to practice their rescue methods. The roof hatch is pictured to the right of the whole the people are shown walking through. Notice the size difference and imagine how much trickier that would be to get everyone out of. One woman in the drill said, “The student strapped into the wheelchair was a real eye-opener for me.” She is referring to the mannequin who was strapped into a secured wheel chair in the back of the flipped bus.

They group was also able to experience what it would be like in a school bus filled with smoke. The smoke in this case was non-toxic vapor. They were then asked to run through an exit drill, the image above shows the proper way to exit through the back of a school bus. One person said this after their experience, “I could not believe how disoriented I became in the smoke-filled bus.” Not being able to see whats going on is a terrifying experience and when your in an emergency situation such as a school bus accident, the smoke  is one huge handicap against you.

After experiencing the two bus exercises the group was also taught the proper method of extinguishing a fire and how to use and extinguish road side flares. After the day was over one man said this, “I came here today because I had to, thinking this was a perfect waste of time. When I got into the cut-open bus and later the smoke-filled bus, I changed my mind. This was the best day ever.” 

Running this drill is such an awesome idea and it is one that is so helpful to all who not only run it but all who are able to experience it. Hoglund Transportation took part in one of these over 30 years ago and would love to do it again. To read the full story click here.

Thank You,

Haleigh

Don't Board the Bus!

Three mothers boarded school buses, three mothers are being charged in a court of law. The two mothers that boarded Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) buses are being charged with  trespassing and disorderly conduct. While the mother that boarded a Bibb County Public Schools bus and attached a child, (her cousin)  has to wear a sign that says, “I made a fool out of myself on a Bibb County Public Schools bus,” for a week at a school bus stop as well as wash a bus, serve five years on probation and pay $500 in attorney fees. 

The two woman who are being charged for boarding CMS buses, one with a bat, learned the hard way that boarding a school bus on route is illegal.  The mother who brought a bat on board boarded so she could talk to some students who were giving her daughter a hard time. Thankfully no one was hurt. The other mother's reason was not stated but when asked to leave the bus she started cursing and swearing at the driver. Their charges are stated above.

As for the final mother who boarded and repeatedly assaulted her 11 year old cousin, after an argument broke out between the girl and her own son. The woman also pulled the little girls hair. The fight was broken up by the driver and the woman's child. In court the woman plead guilty to battery and making terrorist threats. Her charges are stated above.

To read more click here!

Thank You,
Haleigh

On Managing Transportation, Part 2

On Monday, I wrote about this month's School Transportation News topics.  First, they highlight what challenges Transportation Directors face.  Second, they outline what makes a GREAT Transportation Director.

Monday's article focused on the challenges.  Today's post is about how they define a GREAT Transportation Director.  

Here at our company, there is not a single Transportation Director, but a Transportation Crew, including our Superintendent, Joe, Jami, me, and our support staffs.  For the record, I'm including how I think we're doing at each point.  Feel free to add your comments! :)

GREAT Transportation Directors:

1. Have great communication skills.
   Thumbs up.  We are able to communicate on many levels with many different groups of people, from the students and parents, to the tenth grade driver's ed students, to our drivers.
   
2. Have industry knowledge, studying regulations, best practices, district policies, and more, including knowing how to expertly do a wide range of tasks.
   Another thumbs up.  We work really hard to know the latest information.  Sometimes that information comes from YOU, our drivers and community. We work hard to do more than just maintain buses and plan routes, and  most often the expertise we use is found under our roof.
   
3. Focus on safety.
   Thumbs up.  It's the first thing that motivates every decision we make.
   
4. Are dedicated.
   Yup, thumbs up!  We work long and hard hours when we must in order to get the best possible result for the most people.
   
5. Have integration skills.
   I wouldn't give this one a thumbs down, but I'm not going with a thumbs up either.  I think we have trouble during certain seasons creating a good balance between each of the various tasks we do (for example, August labor is highly dedicated exclusively to routing).  That's why we took apart all the things we do this summer and redesigned how every aspect of our company is managed.  We won't be able to fully assess the success of our redesign until next summer.  I have high hopes.
6. Are flexible.
   Thumbs up for our relationship with the school district, staff, parents, and students.  Thumbs down for employee interaction, but I don't see that changing.  I believe we need to spend more time explaining why we are saying "no" to certain requests or why we insist on certain behaviors, but a fair amount of inflexibility is required to maintain high levels of service.
   
7. Focuses on students.
   Thumbs up.  Just remember that we focus on students in general, not specifically.  This is a mass transportation program, so we focus on what - collectively - is best for students.  That's not the same as focusing individually.
8. Pays attention to detail.
   Thumbs up.  Some might say obsessively so.  Still, I think we keep the big picture in view as well.
9. Has problem-solving skills.
   Two thumbs up!  We have solved some humdingers!  And done it within twenty-four hours.  Trust me, there is never a dull moment.
10. Has clarity.
    Thumbs up.  We focus first on our priorities:  SAFE, EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE transportation.  Then we strive for excellence.  Finally, we work hard to be kind and caring in our decision-making.
11. Acts on feedback.
    Thumbs up.  We listen to people who offer feedback.  If it's good, we share it with those affected.  If it's bad, we investigate and come up with a solution (see #9).
12. Is responsible.
    Thumbs up.  Each person listed by name has willing and loudly taken responsibility for mistakes and miscalculations.  What's more, we take responsibility for the people who share our work with us.  When questioned about a driver's behavior, my immediate response is first to apologize, and then to explain how we are going to address or fix the problem.
13. Thinks ahead.
    Thumbs up!  I think most people get afraid when they hear me say, "I have an idea!"  We are always thinking about next week, next month, and next year.  People who visit our office at various times will see our poster boards where we keep notes about "WHAT CAN BE BETTER NEXT YEAR?"  We make new ones every year during the various routing processes, and we look at them before we start those jobs in the subsequent year.  It's a good, if less than sophisticated, practice.
14. Has a servant's heart.
    Two thumbs up!!  We can offer many examples of pure and dedicated service.  But often acts of service are better left between the servant and the served.
15. Keeps learning.
    Thumbs up.  There are times when I recognize the magnitude of what we do and that the actions we take today can result in the loss of a student's life tomorrow.  That could be overwhelming.  Rather than wearing the responsibility as a burden, we focus on learning to be better every single day. 
16. Has an eye for talent.
    Thumbs up.  We can find the right people.  You can tell by looking at the people in key positions in the office, shop, and behind the wheels of the various vehicles.
17. Leads.
    Thumbs up.  "'Leadership in this sense is a broad term to encompass integrity, commitment to your people and your mission, and the ability to know your stuff, your people, and yourself,' says Grant Reppert of Gwinnett County Public Schools in Lawrenceville, Ga.  'This is why people are willing to trust and follow the direction and guidance you provide.'"
18. Knows and uses the Three Cs:  Compassion to listen to others.
19. Knows and uses the Three Cs:  Confidence to make tough decisions.
20. Knows and uses the Three Cs:  Courage to stand alone behind the decisions.
    We listen, we make tough decisions, we stand behind them.  I'm not giving the thumbs up just yet.  
21. Has heart.
    Thumbs up.  Our decisions affect people, and we need to think about the effects. 
22. Has a thick skin.
    Two thumbs up!  We are cussed, ridiculed, belittled, and bullied.  And it doesn't matter.  We believe in what we do, and we stand by it.  It helps that we stand as a team and not as a single person.  
23. Delegates wisely.
    Thumbs up.  We are getting good at using the right person's talents to achieve the right successes.  
24. Uses negotiation skills.
    Thumbs up.  
25. Is dependable.
    Thumbs up.  We have Joe available 24/7, in most cases.  We have checks and balances in place.  We have the right people in the right positions.  Those things create dependability.
26. Is willing to get down in the trenches.
    Thumbs up.  We drive, ride, clean the toilets...  There is no job that we leave unfinished because of a job title or status.  
27. Has business acumen.
    Thumbs up.  All of us have learned so much about business while going through some tough times!  And during those tough times, we've learned to trust and rely on each other and support staff.  So, our business will continue to grow and we will keep it healthy, even when it requires tough decision-making.
28. Embraces challenges.
    Thumbs up.  We get overwhelmed, but we don't stop working.  In fact, we laugh more the harder things get.  We've learned the best way to get through the toughest challenges is to share them with each other and look at the problem from more than one direction and with different sets of eyes and points of view.
29. Thinks about the "Big Picture."
    Thumbs up.  
30. Is determined.
    Thumbs up.  We are determined to be prepared at all times for even the most unexpected events.  We are determined that our staff will be kind, caring, and excellent.  We are determined to get the job done every day.
31. Networks.
    Thumbs up.  We belong to local networking organizations like the Monticello Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce.  We attend community events and relevant industry events.  We talk to people and listen to their stories.  
32. Follows-up.
    Thumbs up.  We have a rule that emails and voice mails need to be answered within hours, and, for the most part, everyone follows the rule.
33. Follows-through.
    Thumbs up.  We follow-through by communicating with drivers and letting parents know what's going on.  Sometimes, our best-laid plans for some of the non-route training and scheduling go awry because we are so very short-staffed.  We're working on a plan designed to keep our training schedule on schedule.  
34. Is accessible.
    Thumbs up, most of the time.  We try to always have at least one person available to both employees and customers, but it's a bigger challenge in late August and early September.  
35. Gets the facts.
    I think we are better at fact-collecting than ever before, and I'm tempted to give us the thumbs up.  I think we could be better at making sure we get the facts from all sides of an issue before reacting.  I'm glad this was part of the list; it gives us a new goal!
    
36. Is organized.
    Thumbs up!  Says Colleen Murphy (in STN), "Everything has its place, and either at the beginning or end of each day... you need to straighten up the piles and put what you can away.  We deal with so many items that are time- and safety-sensitive that not keeping good records will destroy your entire operation."  And, that, my friends, is why we have developed our Very Important Paper Box, which is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we did to reorganize our company this summer.
    
    
37. Empowers employees.
    Thumbs almost up.  I would have thought we had this one nailed, until an incident occurred on a bus that scared another employee who was riding along.  Had I been riding and a driver made an error that was a near-miss, I would have removed him from the seat, and driven the bus myself.  Every professional driver here should feel the same way.  It's about our students' safety and not at all about whose toes get trampled.  We're going to work on this.
    
38. Has a calm demeanor.
    Thumbs down overall.  We tend to get excited, and there is always the buzz of excited energy traveling the corridors of this building.  I think, though, that most often in serious circumstances we have more than a calm demeanor.  We have an innate sense of confidence in what we do that lends itself to professionally handling tense or emergency situations.  We're going to work on this one too.
    
39. Is patient.
    For everyone, that's a big thumbs up.  For me, it's a big thumbs down.  I really admire patience in people since it's a quality I rarely bring forth.  
    
40. Is fair.
    Two thumbs up!  We work really hard to be consistent and in most cases are successful.  We aren't perfect, and our decisions are subject to approval from a variety of sources, but we do try to always err on the side of consistency.
    
41. Gives credit.
    Thumbs up.
    
42. Is decisive.
    Thumbs up.  Says Michael Dallessandro of Niagara Wheatfield CSD in Niagra Falls, NY, "Often a decision has to be made, and there is not much time to do it since our buses are often 'moving' while they are awaiting an answer."
    
43. Is visible.
    Thumbs up.  You see us throughout the day, at the various school sites, and - sometimes - on the streets observing.  
    
44. Is creative.
    Thumbs up.  We do really cool and creative stuff to make things work for people.  
    
45. Is consistent.
    Thumbs up up up!  See #40.
    
46. Is positive.
    Thumbs up, most of the time.  We need a plan to keep things positive when we're feeling the burden of the workload.  We have some ideas to put into play next year...
    
47. Has a sense of direction.
    Thumbs up.  We know where things are and know where to look when we don't.  And we don't just trust a map to tell us where things are;  we go look.
    
48. Is honest.
    Thumbs up.  We've shared hard things with our employees and our school administration.  It's always been the right choice to be forthright.  
    
49. Has high ethical standards.
    Thumbs up.  We work really hard to do the right things all the time for the most people, and we never try to circumvent a regulation, law, rule, or policy.  And we have earned trust and respect for those efforts.  We will maintain high ethical standards as long as we stay in business.
    
50. Is involved in the community.
    We try to do as much as we can for kids.  Through our membership in the Chamber of Commerce, we plan to participate in more events we didn't even know about prior to joining (what a great resource!).  We're looking forward to those new and exciting events in our very own community. 

After this article posts, bus drivers will have an assignment to read and comment on the article.  We won't hide any posts, so check back to see what the people who work here think about the article and our self-assessment.

Safe driving!
Kari

On Managing Transportation, Part 1

The latest issue of my favorite industry magazine, School Bus Fleet, contains an in-depth article about the challenges faced by Transportation Directors (TDs) and focuses on what makes a great TD.

In an earlier blogpost, I found a comment by an employee in which she wondered what it was like to be managing transportation rather than driving a school bus, so I thought I'd share some highlights of the articles.

This article is a great summary of input received by TDs across the country, and mirrors our own experience.  The magazine offered a survey for TDs to complete, and the majority of responders were companies/school districts our size or smaller.

After listing the concern and the percentage of responders who chose it, I offer commentary comparing it to our own experience:

1. Budget/Funding Issues (21.7%)
   This is, clearly, our biggest issue in Monticello.
   
2. Driver Recruitment/Retention (18%)
   I have personally not driven this often in years.  We would benefit from a few more quality drivers.
   
3. Student Behavior (9%)
   While I would not put this quite so high on the list, I would include it for the distraction factor it offers to bus drivers, and the danger that driver distraction offers to students.
   
4. Maintaining Service Level (6.3%)
   We have an exceptional level of service, and are one of the few companies that can honestly state we have never missed a route.  Not once in sixty-five years.  That's rare.  It IS tough to maintain a solid service level when there is a driver shortage, so this is definitely on our list.
   
5. Personnel Issues (5.3%)
   Just when I think I've heard it all, a driver will do something that disproves my conviction that things can't get any more strange.  Personnel Issues, and the things facing people in their private lives, are of great concern.
   
6. Driver Absenteeism (4.2%)
   I might actually move this one up the list to #3.  I regularly fail to understand why there is so much absenteeism when there are a mere 174 days of work, and there is a gap between routes.  I believe I have written many, many times the same statement:  "Come to work!"
   
7. Routing/Scheduling (3.7%)
   Creating routes that meet all the criteria for safe routes while meeting parent demands can be stressful, especially when parents hold us accountable for things beyond our control, like what the law requires in relation to transportation (for example, the law only allows transportation to and from home or daycare, and that means the bus isn't available for homework dates, rides to and from places of employment, or sleepovers/birthday parties).
   
8. Bus/Equipment Replacement (3.7%)
   It's tough to plan to replace buses and equipment when the budget is constantly under fire and when the cost of fuel is skyrocketing.  When all the money goes in the fuel tank...
   
9. School/Parent Needs (3.2%)
   We discuss this frequently in group settings.  Suffice it to say that parents are very demanding!  They can also be mildly abusive and completely offensive.  However, this year I've heard more parents being thankful and praising drivers and our company for dedicated and thorough service.  Keep up the good work!
   
10. Homeless Transportation (3.2%)
    The needs for homeless student transportation is on the rise.  In Minnesota, a student whose family becomes homeless deserves a ride to his or her regular school with his or her usual friends.  This attempt to create stability for students in unstable circumstances is noble -- but difficult to manage.  There is no distance rule.  And the "three-days to provide transportation" is also non-existent; these homeless students are guaranteed a ride the very next day.
    
11. Special-Needs Transportation (3.2%)
    Special-needs transportation is more labor-intensive than most other kinds of transportation and requires unique individuals to serve as drivers and monitors.  It can be stressful to manage all the unique students and student needs, but we feel like we provide excellent service to our most vulnerable students because we believe in the people behind the wheel.

The only thing I would add to the list, and it probably never would have appeared on a national survey, is that we often work with people who live in this community with us and attend the same churches, shop at the same grocery stores, attend entertainment at the same local establishments, and socialize in the same environments.  That can make it tough to be "bosses" at times.  

The same is true of our customers, which can make it tough to say "no" to special requests, or to make the student discipline call.  We handle those things best by creating policies to manage the situations instead of trying to manage people.

On Thursday, I will post a summary of what constitutes "Great Transportation Directors" according to School Bus Fleet magazine.  Bet you can't wait!

Safe Driving!

Kari

A Day In the Life of a Route Driver

So this week, I am a route driver.

I've been a route driver periodically during my lifetime in the bus business.  

To tell the truth, I've forgotten what it means to be a route driver.

Subbing is one kind of stressful thing.  Route driving is a different kind of stress.  I find that if I don't sub or drive a route periodically, I forget the stressors.

Not the obvious ones, of course.  It's always stressful to deal with loading and unloading kids and worrying about people failing to obey the stop arm.  It's always important to manage student behavior - and tough to predict in what way student management skills will be tested.  It's also tricky to function in troubling traffic situations.  Those things affect all drivers.

When subbing a route, knowing where to go and what to expect creates a new stressor.  As the person responsible for planning and choosing bus stops, I have additional stress when I find out that drivers are doing things they ought not.  Trust me when I say, we work on that problem EVERY DAY!  Sub drivers often have to explain to parents why they are there, why they are not perfectly on schedule, and where the regular driver is.

When driving a route permanently, there are additional responsibilities.  I have to KNOW my students. I have to KNOW my route (following a route map/instructions after a couple days is NOT okay).  I have to BE ON TIME at ALL TIMES.  I have to be accountable to the people meeting the bus, whether parents or school staff.  I have to be presentable, efficient, professional, and happy at all times. I have to forget the other things calling my attention, and focus solely on driving the route.  I have to plan my seating arrangement, and deal with change requests from parents.  I have to be driver, friend, parent, responsible adult, nurse - and not get too involved in inappropriate ways with my students.  And I need to do all this - and this is particular to me - knowing I will not continue to be the route driver;  I have to prepare my students for their new driver too.

Yes, route driving is a different ball of wax.  I'm so very, very glad I get to do it now and then.

Safe driving!

Kari

Yes, Folks, It's a Theory

Before the start of the year, we send home a bunch of information about bus routes, including bus stop times.

I hate sending those times.  They are never perfect - in fact, not even close.  And there's no way to make them perfect.

The problem isn't with the software, and it's not that we're morons.  The problem is that we have no way of predicting which kids will be slow to load, which ones will be fast to load, which ones will show up every day, and which ones have a seat reserved, but never ride the bus.  We cannot predict which neighborhoods will have bizarre traffic and parking situations or which ones will have a random construction project.  We cannot predict which students will be clueless about where their bus stop is or which ones will insist they should get an extra stop along the path of the route.  We cannot predict who will be new to the district, and - more surprising - who will disappear to parts unknown without letting anyone know.

So, the bottom line is, the bus information is a theory.  An educated, thoughtful theory, but imperfect as a guarantee schedule of arrival and departure times from bus stops.

How can we tell what time a bus will be at a bus stop?

We send the buses out with our best theoretical plan and run the routes for five days.  On the sixth, the buses will have established when they will be at their stops.  The time they arrive/depart next week will be the time they will arrive all year long.  That time is the actual scheduled time.  We will not send another 4,000 letters home.  We just expect families to understand and know that this is the way things work.

The perfectionist in me really hates that, but it is practical and it does bear out our experience for the last sixty-five years.

And when a parent calls next February and says the bus has been late every single day this year, and that it has been coming exactly ten minutes later than the letter said all year long, I try to remember that not everyone has sixty-five years experience with mass transportation systems.  To me, the measure of successful routing is that the bus comes at exactly the same time every day from September through February.

Safe driving!
Kari