Transportation

School Transportation in New York State �  Districts MUST provide transportation beyond

NYS’s limits (3 miles HS, 2 miles K-8) �  Scarsdale’s limit of 1.5 miles is more generous � Most Westchester districts are more generous �  Some districts are small and provide none � City districts are not required to provide service �  Some districts provide transportation to all �  BOE Policy changed only by REFERENDUM

�  NYS reimburses transportation costs, depending on District wealth

Service Delivery Models �  In-house, self-operated program

�  Highest level of service, cost stability, most flexibility, expensive �  Termination MUST be negotiated with union, with major up-front cost

�  Contracted services

�  Lower labor costs at outset, cost volatility down the line ○  Savings come from employee benefits

�  Affordable Care Act will impact future savings from contracted services ○  Out-of district contracts are extremely expensive ○  Once District leaves the transportation business, there is no going back

�  Mandatory use of available public transport �  Extremely cost effective �  Legitimate approach taken by other districts, upheld by Commissioner �  Tremendous dissatisfaction among stakeholders �  Must apply to in-district students as well �  Scarsdale drivers’ contract says privatization must be negotiated

Legal Considerations �  District’s legal responsibility for students begins

when child gets on the bus and ends when he/she gets off

�  We must provide transportation to licensed day care facilities if requested

�  Private/parochial students must be provided with the same level of service as public school students (e.g., late buses)

� “Like Circumstances…”

Other Scarsdale Facts �  Until 1991 service was provided by a private company �  Board of Ed decided to bring the operation in-house

�  In 1991, NYS aided transportation at 90% of costs �  NYS now aids transportation at 6% of costs

�  No monitors on buses except as required by IEPs. Student behavior issues reported to

principals for follow-up

�  Students participating in fields trips, sports and extra-curricular activities must ride bus to/from the activity

�  Kindergarteners must be met by a responsible adult or will be returned to school

�  We must provide mid-day transportation for IHM special education students to special education services in our buildings

�  We provide transportation to Scarsdale’s senior citizens, summer camp programs

Who rides the bus in Scarsdale? �  1824 students living 1.5 miles or more from District schools, about

38% of student population

�  Per state law, students who attend: �  Private/parochial schools 1.5 miles or more from home, within 15-

mile radius of Scarsdale �  Special education out-of-district programs without regard to

distance �  Needs can change from one day to the next

�  364 students attend 67 private/parochial/special education programs �  4 homeless children attending Scarsdale schools �  Students from nearby districts (for a fee) �  Field trips, extracurricular activities, after-school sports

Efficiency metrics §  Eligibility standards - State or local mileage limits?

§  Wide variance among districts

§  Service delivery models? §  In-house, self-operated program §  Contracted services §  Mandatory use of public transportation, where available

§  Ride times?

§  Most students on the bus <45 minutes

§  Only valid measurement is cost/student transported or cost/mile transported

Large discrepancies in per-pupil costs – need to look closely at the numbers �  In-district transport is comparatively efficient

�  Private/parochial/special education transport is inefficient and costly

�  Most important: private/parochial/special education population as % of students transported

○  Bedford: lowest per-pupil cost, <1% of transported students in private schools

○  Mamaroneck: highest per-pupil cost, despite using higher state mileage limits �  >75% of transported students at private/parochial/special ed programs

○  Scarsdale’s cost/pupil above average

�  Out-of-district students make up a relatively high proportion of total students transported

○  Greater distances (up to 15 miles) and dispersion of students ○  Vehicle and driver needed for each trip ○  Start and end times very similar, so combining destinations is difficult

1/3 OF BUDGET FOR IN-DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION, 2/3 FOR OUT-OF-DISTRICT

What really affects transportation costs?

How does Scarsdale’s program work?

�  Database of addresses eligible for in-district transport �  Greenacres and Edgewood have no eligible addresses

�  Routing through Transfinder software and supervisor

experience to achieve efficient routes �  In-district routes don’t vary very much �  Out-of-district needs can vary considerably

�  District schools use tiered system of start/end times so

most drivers and vehicles do 2-3 routes each a.m./p.m.

�  Private/parochial trips combined where possible – difficult because of similar start/end times �  Most students’ rides < 30-40 minutes

Advantages of In-House Operation �  Cost stability, annually and over time

�  Quality of service

�  Driver retention �  Students typically ride no more than 30-40 min.

�  Control

�  District hires/trains drivers, maintains vehicles, has timely access to vehicles and drivers in emergency situations

�  Flexibility in scheduling

�  Services for Village programs at very low cost

�  Village shares cost of maintenance garage

Private/Parochial/Special Education Transportation �  2/3 of the transportation budget servicing

364 children, 1/3 servicing 1,824 students �  103 special education students to 37

programs �  54 out-of-district students going to 31 programs,

using 29 drivers �  19 students attending 11 summer programs

�  261 private/parochial students to 30 programs, using 18 drivers

�  Most students on the bus <45 minutes

Staffing �  Director of Transportation �  2 head bus drivers who also serve as

backup drivers �  Supervision required 6 am to 6pm �  During seriously inclement weather, supervisors

stay until last child is brought home �  58 30-hr/week drivers �  6 15-hr/week drivers �  All drivers do multiple runs in a.m. and p.m. �  8 monitors (special education)

Training �  Drivers are hired with CDL licenses with specific endorsements

�  All drivers receive training 2x/yr, plus periodic training for medically fragile students

�  All drivers are subject annually to: �  Review of driving record �  Physical exam �  Test of defensive driving skills �  Random drug and alcohol testing – every driver tested once in 12 months

�  Every two years drivers must pass

�  Road and written test �  Physical performance test

�  NYSIR license monitoring service - immediate notification of arrests

The Fleet

�  23 large (44-66 passenger) buses �  Primarily in-district transportation

�  45 small (14-20 passenger) buses �  Primarily private/parochial/special ed transport

�  4 wheelchair buses �  Special education transport

�  13 passenger vehicles �  Primarily special education transport

Fleet Maintenance �  Buses are stored on Ramsey Road at secure bus compound

�  Recently concluded agreement expands overcrowded space

�  Funds appropriated for expansion of the facility

�  Buses maintained by Village staff under cooperative services agreement first approved in 1991 and renewed this year �  Cost-effective arrangement for Scarsdale taxpayers �  Bus compound/maintenance garage annual lease is $125,000 �  District reimburses Village for salaries, benefits, supplies, materials,

gas and diesel �  Buses are inspected according to DOT schedule 2x/year �  DOT passage rate of 100% for 2012-13

How can we be more efficient? �  Drivers are “triple tripping” in the morning – most do 3 runs �  Drivers are “double tripping” in the afternoon

�  Change dismissal times ○  MS dismisses at 2:30, all others around 3pm ○  Very disruptive ○  No control over private school arrival/dismissals

�  Increase out-of district ride times to 1 hour or more (not possible for

special education trips) �  Central pick-up �  Savings of $200,000? �  Politically sensitive – only service these taxpayers receive

�  Contracting out �  Loss of service quality �  Loss of scheduling flexibility �  Loss of Village services �  Because most of the costs are driven by out-of district travel, (the most

expensive component), savings are likely not enormous ○  Employer mandate of Affordable Care Act will impact these savings