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StumbleuponSchools look for ways to reduce busing costs, maintain safety
Milton-Union schools bought software that helped it consolidate routes, saving the district thousands.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Milton-Union schools needed to save on bus costs, but didn't want to reduce service.
So, Superintendent Ginny Rammel said, they invested about $6,500 in computer software that helped consolidate routes.
The measure reduced demand for wheels by one bus, saving about $7,200 the first year in the southwest Miami County school district.
"We tend to look at things in five-year buckets at schools — the software will cost the district about $8,500 over five years (initial year plus $500 per year thereafter for maintenance/upgrades), however the driver savings will amount to approximately $45,000 — this was a great win for the district in terms of finances," said Chris Johnson, Milton-Union director of business operations.
As the cost of fuel increases coupled with higher prices for buses and less reimbursement from the state, school districts across the Miami Valley are looking for ways to keep an adequate, safe fleet on the road.
Lt. Gordon Jackson of the Piqua district oversees the Ohio Highway Patrol's bus inspections in 11 counties, including Miami, Darke, Montgomery, Clark and Preble.
"Anytime we have a school district with a lot of issues, it comes across my desk. We haven't had any district with major problems," he said.
Districts normally aren't going to scrimp on maintenance, knowing inspectors do the scheduled check plus a surprise visit during school and will put violating buses out of service, Jackson said.
"It does them no good," he said.
Historically, smaller districts tend to have older buses, Jackson said, adding, though, that many districts now are buying newer used buses, looking for fuel reduction measures and streamlining operations.
Some of the smaller districts have no staff to maintain buses, so they only have work done after state inspections, said Sgt. Aaron Gentry, the Highway Patrol's commander of licensing and commercial standards in Warren, Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Greene, Fayette, Clinton and Brown counties.
"I have buses that aren't even looked at except when we look at them," Gentry said.
Contact this reporter
at (937) 225-2292 or
nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Contact Lawrence Budd
at (937) 225-2261
or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com
