Cleveland City Schools details transportation overhaul: routing software, cameras and targeted vans for McKinney-Vento students

The Cleveland City Schools transportation team presented a comprehensive update on routing, safety and staffing, saying new technology and changing regulatory guidance are reshaping daily operations.

Operations director Mr. Taylor reported 37 bus drivers, 3 van drivers assigned to serve homeless and foster (McKinney-Vento) students, 8 bus monitors (with a stated need for two more), and 34 bus routes including six special-education routes. He said daily ridership runs about 2,200–2,300 students and district vehicles cover roughly 1,737 miles daily, up from about 1,212 miles previously.

Taylor said the district is deploying Transfinder routing and a GPS/transponder system to consolidate routing, field-trip scheduling and parent notifications in one platform. Staff described the system’s parent-notification texts and live GPS feed as tools to provide more timely information when buses are delayed. The district also reported adding dash cameras and up to four cameras per bus; administrators review footage for conduct reports and incident investigation.

On policy and compliance, Taylor described recent shifts tied to McKinney-Vento requirements that permit use of vans for transporting homeless and foster students when appropriate; he said the Department of Safety has relaxed some restrictions that previously required only school buses. He also raised a state requirement under discussion for annual separate mental evaluations for bus drivers, which the district has not implemented; district staff said Tennessee Risk Management and legislators are discussing potential changes.

Board members thanked transportation staff for the report. The update was informational; no board action was taken.