Transportation Director
Published on Nov 19, 2015
Transportation Director Interview for Calhoun County Schools.
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
How much does to cost to operate one school bus?
It cost the system $10,000 per year per bus for fuel and maintenance
Photo by Kay Gaensler
It cost the system $80,000 to purchase a bus and $90,000 to purchase a special needs bus.
Photo by Proudlove
The school system has 18 schools that need transportation and we transport all gifted students each week to the Career Tech School, Field Trips, Athletic Events, and to and from school, it cost the system $1.174 million per year and that doesn't include personnel.
Photo by Zemlinki!
The estimated total mileage of buses per year is determined by the state. The bus drivers are hired one driver per bus. The special needs buses also have an aide on each bus. The ratio is determined by the local school system as needed.
Photo by tncountryfan
The transportation budges is divided into:
gas/diesel
parts
tires
oil
salaries
general supplies
insurance
other supplies
The revenue sources is mostly some state and some tax allocation money.
Photo by masochismtango
Sonya Smith is our routing director. She makes sure that we are efficient in picking students up. She rides bus routes throughout the year to make sure it is the best plan for the buses. We make sure that we have proper diagnosing of mechanical issues, and we have cost comparisons of various products that we use.
Photo by Eric Fischer
Each bus is repaired as needed on an individual basis. Each bus is inspected monthly for issues. The average cost of yearly maintenance is $2,000 per bus.
Photo by twicepix
The families, employees, and community doesn't understand the stresses of being a bus driver. They think it is easy, but there is a lot of stress to drive 45 students to and from school each day safely. Not only do they have to make sure the students are behaving, but also not hit another vehicle. The roads are narrow in some parts of the county and the buses don't fit on the roads. The drivers have to pay close attention while driving.
Photo by Melinda Taber
The county is spread so wide that all the buses are parked at gas stations, houses, stores, churches, and schools. I wish there was a place to centrally park the buses each day. It would add an hour or more to each drivers day if that was to happen. It would also add to the cost of gas keeping them in the same place. I am looking at ways to have them parked in the community that they serve centrally.
Photo by Becksta1
Reaction:
I couldn't believe how expensive the transportation department cost to the school system. I know that there is a system in GA that doesn't have buses, the parents bring them everywhere. I understand if a system doesn't have funds to pay for the transportation. Two local systems in my county contract their transportation department. That way those systems don't have to pay for directors, maintenance, routing specialist and secretaries. They just pay for buses and drivers.
Photo by somegeekintn
Most Interesting:
I found that the director wished that more people understood what all went on in the transportation department. I think there needs to be transportation newsletters, articles, community meetings about the buses because it involves so many of our students. I think the more people are informed, the less they complain.
Photo by Kamoteus (A New Beginning)
I would like to know more about the special needs buses. I would like to ride with a driver and see how those routes are laid out all over the county. We have a school that students attend who are severe behavior, and severe autistic. We also have certain schools that severe the AAA students, so routes have to be very detailed when delivering those students to the correct school. I would like to interview the route director Sonya Smith, but she is not working currently and doesn't return till August.
Photo by Alin S Living with Autism
Rebecca Grogan
Calhoun County Schools in Anniston, AL
