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Middle school roof delayed; bus-tracking rollout to be phased this fall, Buckeye Valley assistant superintendent says
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Rex Reeder told the board the middle school roof remains incomplete and the district will phase in a new Transfinder bus-tracking system this fall, with a soft launch on a few buses and broader rollout later in the school year.
Rex Reeder, assistant superintendent, told the Buckeye Valley Local Board of Education the middle school roof project is not finished and that the district is working with its owner’s representative and contractor to complete final work. Reeder said the district is waiting on membrane parts and an inspector; he expects a final walkthrough on Sept. 4.
“The last and final walk through will be September 4,” Reeder said. He told board members the incomplete work — including gutters and ground rework from equipment — has delayed students’ access to some outdoor areas and that the district is pushing the contractor, identified in discussion as 5 K Roofing, to finish.
Reeder also updated the board on Transfinder, the district’s new bus-tracking system. He said staff trainings are scheduled in September and October and that he plans a phased, “soft start” rollout on two or three buses to work out issues before wider deployment. Reeder said the district’s goal for a districtwide rollout would be by December but that parts of the schedule depend on training, equipment readiness and variable internet coverage in some areas.
“We’ll do it on two or three buses, communicate to those parents, get feedback, see what’s wrong, see what we can fix,” Reeder said. He noted the system relies mainly on GPS and that he expected it to function even where internet service is weak, but he said he will test coverage during the pilot.
Other operational items approved as part of the consent agenda included hiring an additional bus driver, Jason Hampton, to relieve crowded west-side routes, and the board’s annual approval of bus stops and routes — the district reported 111 routes covering about 204 square miles. The consent agenda also included a three-year school resource officer agreement with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department that the district said is cost-shared 50/50.
Why it matters: the unfinished roof affects student access and safety signoffs; the Transfinder rollout affects parent tracking of buses and requires equipment, training and internet testing. The additional bus driver and route approvals are intended to reduce ride times on crowded routes.
Reeder said he will provide further updates at future meetings and will notify the board once the contractor sets a verified completion date and inspector clearance for the roof. He also said he will bring Transfinder Q&A and training materials to the board when the pilot is ready to start.
