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RSU 10 transportation staff propose bus‑management software, monitors and vehicle replacements to address safety and routing strains
Summary
Transportation staff asked the board to consider a $35,100 annual bus‑management platform (offset by the district's current software costs), part‑time bus monitors to reduce on‑bus discipline incidents, and continuing a two‑buses‑per‑year vehicle‑replacement plan to maintain spares.
Transportation supervisor Devin presented three principal items for the board’s consideration: a replacement bus‑management platform that includes tablets for drivers and a parent app, a proposal to pilot part‑time bus monitors on AM/PM routes, and continued replacement of aging buses and vans.
Why it matters: District staff said discipline incidents on regular bus runs had increased in recent years and that tablet adoption and improved routing could reduce driver distraction and dispatcher workload. Transportation staff also explained the ongoing vehicle‑replacement plan is designed to maintain spare capacity so the district can continue daily runs when units are in for repair.
Devin summarized the software proposal: the vendor would provide routing, driver turn‑by‑turn navigation on tablets, two‑way visibility for the transportation office, integration with PowerSchool for automatic roster updates, and a parent app with bus ETAs. The annual cost presented was $35,100; Devin noted the district currently pays about $14,000 for the existing service plus cellular data for tablets, and that some of the existing cost would be offset if the board approves the new platform. He said the vendor’s price includes device maintenance and replacement cycles and on‑site training.
On discipline, staff showed incident counts recorded for bus runs: disciplinary reports grew from 67 (2021–22) to 356 (2022–23) and 497 (2023–24) before dropping to a lower pace in the current year as tablet use grew; specialized transportation runs still showed a notable number of disciplinary events this year. Staff proposed part‑time bus monitors to ride AM/PM runs and assist drivers with student management; the district suggested starting with a small pilot using hourly aid contracts similar to van aids rather than full‑time hires.
Devin also asked the board to continue a replacement cadence of approximately two buses per year and two vans this year, saying that several vehicles have high mileage and rust and that replacing older units improves reliability and spare availability. He said the state will reimburse a portion of authorized bus purchases under the state bus‑replacement program when vehicles meet eligibility criteria (age or mileage thresholds).
Board members asked for contract length and vendor references on the proposed software and for clarity on how monitors would be assigned (AM/PM only) and whether they would be part of existing contracts. Devin said he would provide follow‑up information on contract terms and vendor references and that monitors would be employed as part‑time, hourly positions similar to van aids.
Ending: Transportation staff will provide written vendor contracts, cost comparisons and implementation timelines at a future meeting so the board can decide whether to include the requests in the final budget.
