1. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Transition in Transportation: Moving from Cabs to Buses as a Community Bryan Seck Homeless Outreach Specialist Lincoln Public Schools NAEHCY 2015

2. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Superintendent's Message All means all- “They are all our kids”

3. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Why are we here?

4. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Why are we here? Safety Timeliness Cost Stigma

5. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Youth Development Team Support student and parent access and use of district and community resources Diverse team to support students across the district

6. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln Public Schools Demographics Almost 40,000 students* 493 homeless in 2013-2014 38 elementary, 11 middle, 6 high school buildings Alternative Programs and Buildings 67% White 13% Hispanic 7% Two or more races 6% African American 5% Asian 44% Free/reduced lunch 84% graduation rate * LPS Statistical Handbook Lincoln: 90 square miles No suburbs- one district Only bus if farther than 4 miles from home school

7. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska LPS Homeless Student Transportation Traditionally, cab as first option Two-three students per cab Two companies in Lincoln On average, $15,000-$20,000 per month $350,000/year Public Transportation

8. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska LPS Homeless Student Transportation Issues: Missed instructional time due to late pickup/drop off time Safety for student in accident Background checks on drivers Unknown structural safety of car Stigma Cost

9. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Our team Sherri Johnson, Youth Development Team Secretary Charles Stratham, Route Supervisor Bill McCoy, Director of Transportation and Custodial Services

10. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Changing the System in 12 months: Collaboration and Communication 1) Students and parents responded to bus utilization October-December 2013 Positive reception- kids just want to be normal and stable 2) Initial Transportation conversation on capacity Reached capacity adding homeless students to routes Transportation motivated to find solution for all students 3) Administration communication January 2014 Communication with Associate Superintendent 4) Mapping the need 90% in a 4 miles radius- we didn’t know this before

11. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Google Map of LPS Homeless Students

12. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Changing the System in 12 months: Collaboration and Communication 5) Planning request to school board April 2014: Administration, transportation, homeless liaison 6) Presentation to school board subcommittee May 2014: Data-driven, sustainable plan. Saves money- $150,000/year 7) Full proposal to school board for vote Similar presentation to full board and public. Unanimous vote. Media attention 8) Vehicle order and planned use October 2014: Smaller buses and minivans Vehicles are utilized for school events/sports events to increase usage and generate offsetting revenue Vehicle price similar to one-year cost of cab service

13. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska The buses!

14. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska The vans!

15. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Changing the System in 12 months: Collaboration and Communication 9) Pilot rollout March 2015: Started with one bus, 10 students Expanded to 91 students in April. More than cabs for first time. 3 day notification for not riding 10) Full rollout: 2015-2016 School Year “First and last classroom of the day”

16. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Media Coverage http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Special-Report- -LPS-Looking-To-Bus-Homeless-Students- 270788721.html http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Special-Report- -LPS-Looking-To-Bus-Homeless-Students- 270788721.html Homeless Student Fund in LPS Foundation- ask for help!

17. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Lessons Learned 1) Hiring drivers is hard Continued need for cabs with difficulty of hiring drivers Training for cab drivers on working with students 2) Communication key to implementation Homeless liaison and transportation representative Mobility and constantly increasing numbers Shared transportation with other districts Google doc shared with schools 3) Continued need for some cabs Long routes Reaching capacity- and next steps!

18. Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Nebraska Questions? Bryan Seck Homeless Outreach Specialist bseck@lps.org 402-436-1963 (Office) 402-436-3440 (Cell)