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Transportation director outlines fleet age, route consolidation and plans for telematics and parent app
Summary
The district transportation director reported no avoidable accidents last year, discussed aging vehicles and rising bus costs, explained a recent consolidation that reduced route mileage, and proposed future purchases including telematics, parent tracking apps, replacement camera systems and an epoxy wash‑bay floor.
The Uinta County School District No. 1 transportation director told the board during the operational budget presentations that the department recorded no avoidable accidents last year and that the age and cost of bus replacements are rising.
Mr. Fackrell said the department averages route counts and snapshots to track ridership and noted a recent route consolidation removed four routes and reduced overall mileage while transporting the same number of students. He said the district averages about 1,180 daily riders from a total enrollment near 2,600, based on periodic snapshots.
Fackrell outlined near‑term purchases already in process — two buses on order, two buses received this fiscal year — and noted vehicle and parts costs have risen substantially. He said student suburbans are reimbursed and have a 15‑year lifecycle under Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) rules, delaying replacement timelines.
Planned investments discussed included replacing several bus camera systems (current systems cost about $7,000 each on larger buses), adding cameras to student suburbans, installing telematics for vehicle diagnostics and tracking, and subscribing to routing software with a parent app that would let parents see bus location and receive delay notifications. He said telematics and a parent app carry ongoing subscription costs, while the upfront cost includes devices for buses.
Fackrell also described capital needs in the transportation facility: a failing epoxy wash‑bay floor with a contractor quote around $25,000 for a more slip‑resistant product, and the potential to replace four noncompatible camera systems. He said some camera manufacturers provided unreliable service and that the district will seek replacement systems to ensure reliable video for incidents.
On staffing, Fackrell said driver recruitment and retention remain priorities, that training reduces operating risk, and that the department is currently fully staffed with a healthy sub list. He said roughly five of 16 buses currently run with a bus aide and suggested several more would be beneficial.
Board members asked about warranties (bus components covered by manufacturers and Cummins engine warranty; dealers coordinate warranty service) and about disposal of surplus buses (district may use nonrunning buses for training or take them to a dismantler that documents destruction; proceeds from scrapped buses generally go to the state). No formal board action on transportation purchasing was taken at this presentation; department budget requests will be considered in the district’s budget process.
