Post by title1parent on Aug 24, 2010 5:25:22 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2629862,6_1_NA24_D204BUS_S1-100824.article
First Student aims for smooth start
August 24, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Indian Prairie School District 204 and First Student bus company have been busy planning and working to ensure the rocky start to last year -- overcrowded buses, missed stops and confusion over route changes -- remain a thing of the past.
While some buses traveled their routes throughout the past few weeks, on Monday all buses for District 204 went through the schedule of a regular school day, starting in the morning and continuing with the afternoon routes home.
CONTACT INFO
Indian Prairie District 204 bus phone bank: 630-375-3883 during school hours.
Indian Prairie District 204 bus information: ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Transportation
"That way they really get a feel for the route," Coyle said. "We got a lot of construction out there. It really gets them adapted, especially the new drivers."
Approximately 19,000 students in District 204 ride one of roughly 250 bus routes every day. This year, the district has implemented several new procedures, along with those previously in place, in hopes of avoiding the problems that plagued bus transportation at the start of last school year.
"First of all, we had some technical difficulties with a new computer system last year," Holm said. "We put in a new transportation system, and one of the issues had to do with the data coming from the Student Information System to the new transportation system."
Those problems, he said, were fixed last year and shouldn't be an issue.
"We have a better handle on it this year," Holm said.
The district has been very determined to minimize changes in bus routes this year, Holm said.
"Really, the routes have not changed dramatically from what they were at the very end of last year," Coyle said. "That's one big positive we have going into next year."
Routes were restructured last year, in part because of the addition of Metea Valley High School to the district, along with Fischer Middle School. Adding to the confusion was that some neighborhoods last year had buses from two high schools picking up students since only underclassmen attended Metea. This year, Metea also will have juniors attending. In other instances last year, parents and students using a longtime bus stop in one location found it had been moved.
"Ultimately we got the routes in good shape," Holm said. "We're kind of starting from that point last year instead of trying to get to that point."
To help families become familiar with their transportation plan, the district released bus route information earlier than normal to allow more time for questions.
"We're able to deal with them now rather than closer to the start of school," Holm said last week.
The district will also have a phone bank -- similar to ones in emergency situations -- running for parents who have any questions about their bus routes
"We're using that same system to be prepared for all the questions that typically come," Holm said.
Parents can call 630-375-3883 during school hours should they have any questions or concerns. By releasing the bus route information early, the district is already seeing a lot comments and questions from parents, he said.
In addition to the dry runs, First Student drivers must take 50 hours of class instruction along with behind-the-wheel training.
"The focus this year was to give a great startup for summer school as well as the fall. It's really paid off. We're really excited about the school year," Coyle said. "We knew what our end goal was and made sure our milestones hit that."
"It's a big system," Holm said. "There's essentially 19,000 appointments we have to meet. We have to be there. If one piece of information is wrong, we miss that appointment."
First Student aims for smooth start
August 24, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Indian Prairie School District 204 and First Student bus company have been busy planning and working to ensure the rocky start to last year -- overcrowded buses, missed stops and confusion over route changes -- remain a thing of the past.
While some buses traveled their routes throughout the past few weeks, on Monday all buses for District 204 went through the schedule of a regular school day, starting in the morning and continuing with the afternoon routes home.
CONTACT INFO
Indian Prairie District 204 bus phone bank: 630-375-3883 during school hours.
Indian Prairie District 204 bus information: ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Transportation
"That way they really get a feel for the route," Coyle said. "We got a lot of construction out there. It really gets them adapted, especially the new drivers."
Approximately 19,000 students in District 204 ride one of roughly 250 bus routes every day. This year, the district has implemented several new procedures, along with those previously in place, in hopes of avoiding the problems that plagued bus transportation at the start of last school year.
"First of all, we had some technical difficulties with a new computer system last year," Holm said. "We put in a new transportation system, and one of the issues had to do with the data coming from the Student Information System to the new transportation system."
Those problems, he said, were fixed last year and shouldn't be an issue.
"We have a better handle on it this year," Holm said.
The district has been very determined to minimize changes in bus routes this year, Holm said.
"Really, the routes have not changed dramatically from what they were at the very end of last year," Coyle said. "That's one big positive we have going into next year."
Routes were restructured last year, in part because of the addition of Metea Valley High School to the district, along with Fischer Middle School. Adding to the confusion was that some neighborhoods last year had buses from two high schools picking up students since only underclassmen attended Metea. This year, Metea also will have juniors attending. In other instances last year, parents and students using a longtime bus stop in one location found it had been moved.
"Ultimately we got the routes in good shape," Holm said. "We're kind of starting from that point last year instead of trying to get to that point."
To help families become familiar with their transportation plan, the district released bus route information earlier than normal to allow more time for questions.
"We're able to deal with them now rather than closer to the start of school," Holm said last week.
The district will also have a phone bank -- similar to ones in emergency situations -- running for parents who have any questions about their bus routes
"We're using that same system to be prepared for all the questions that typically come," Holm said.
Parents can call 630-375-3883 during school hours should they have any questions or concerns. By releasing the bus route information early, the district is already seeing a lot comments and questions from parents, he said.
In addition to the dry runs, First Student drivers must take 50 hours of class instruction along with behind-the-wheel training.
"The focus this year was to give a great startup for summer school as well as the fall. It's really paid off. We're really excited about the school year," Coyle said. "We knew what our end goal was and made sure our milestones hit that."
"It's a big system," Holm said. "There's essentially 19,000 appointments we have to meet. We have to be there. If one piece of information is wrong, we miss that appointment."