1. Pupil Transportation Update Dr. Jeffrey S
Pupil Transportation Update Dr. Jeffrey S. Wilson Director of Operations 12 July 2018

2. Agenda Purpose Lines of Effort Personnel Buses Facilities Routing
Communications
Training
Discussion

3. Purpose
To update the Board of Education and the community on the status of pupil transportation preparation for the school year.

4. Lines of Effort Personnel Buses Facilities Routing Communications
Training

5. Personnel
Applebus is on track to begin the school year with the required number of drivers, monitors, and key staff.
Stephanie Shaw, Regional Director of Operations, has been personally managing the transition. She will remain in Huntsville at least until end of first month of school.
James Akins is General Manager.
David Willige is Operations Manager.

6. Buses
Applebus is on track to have all 180 required buses in Huntsville and fully operational by the end of July 2018.
160 of 180 buses are new, coming to Huntsville from the assembly line. The other 20 buses are no older than 2015.
All buses are air conditioned.

7. Facilities
HCS provided office space to Applebus at the Mastin Lake facility adjacent to ASFL in May 2018.
Applebus occupied the McJohn facility as of 1 July 2018.
IT and phone lines are operational at McJohn.
(256) Main phone line
This line will roll to multiple customer service representatives.

8. Routing
Transportation Coordinator Scott Gillies is working with Applebus to develop and validate routes.
HCS Assessment and Accountability office is sharing data with Applebus on a weekly basis. We will transition to a more frequent data sharing arrangement by mid-July.
Routes will be frozen from 20 July to 20 August to reduce turbulence and increase stability. No stops will be added during this time.
Route changes will take effect on Wednesdays during the school year.
Reminder: Families should register as soon as possible.
Reminder: Families must change bus rider status at their child’s school in order for that status to take effect in iNow and accurately populate routing software (Transfinder).

9. Communications
Operations has hosted a multi-functional weekly In-Process Review (IPR) with Applebus since April . Participants include Rena Anderson, Keith Ward, Jennifer Key, Kevin Redmond, and Heather Bender.
Phone numbers are posted on HCS website.
Applebus is the point of contact for regular route questions and issues.
Scott Gillies is the point of contact for transportation exceptions, special needs transportation, field trips, and other non-regular route topics.
Applebus will have access to and be trained to use Schoolcast.
HCS website will feature address lookup feature.
HCS website will feature accurate route maps that are updated in real time, showing all stops, with accurate route times (use Safe Stop for actual bus progress along a particular route).
Safe Stop bus tracking application will be available for download beginning 20 July. HCS and Applebus are working together on a Safe Stop video.
Media event: 13 July.

10. Training
ALSDE Pupil Transportation personnel have been conducting driver classes throughout July.
HCS personnel from the Security Department will conduct de-escalation training for monitors on 19 July.
HCS personnel from the Special Education Department will conduct SPED driver and monitor training on 19 July.
Applebus drivers begin practice runs of routes the week of 9 July. Practice runs will continue until the start of school.

11. Discussion