By all appearances, the next few years are going to be highly challenging for school transportation management teams. Budgets continue to be lean - and with the Trump Administration defunding the Department of Education and other education-focused efforts, money may become even tighter.
It's more important than ever to create a great team in your transportation office who are focused on optimizing and cutting costs without sacrificing student safety.
Four Elements of Great School Transportation Leadership
1 - A Clear Vision, Communicated Well
A school transportation director needs to have a clear vision of what the transportation system should be, and how that should be accomplished. Don't simply assume everyone is on the same page! Create policy documents and other materials that clearly lay out what you want from the transportation office. Set expectations early, and maintain those expectations unless exceptional circumstances arise.
2 - Hire Like-Minded People
Most school transportation offices are small enough that everyone there needs to fit in, and pull their weight. Don't hire based entirely on resumes and "on paper" experience. Think about how any potential new hire will fit into the team, what they'll add, and what challenges might slow down their onboarding. You want people you can 'slot' into their roles with as little friction as possible.
3 - Maintain Morale - Especially Among Drivers
A good team needs good team spirit. If your school's budget issues become worse, you need people who can keep their heads up and continue fighting the good fight. This is particularly true for your drivers, who are already doing an extremely stressful job, and may be tempted to move into other areas of driving instead. Do what you reasonably can to keep everyone happy and motivated.
4 - Keep Measuring and Providing Feedback
Whenever possible, your stated expectations should be backed up by clear metrics you wish to reach. Be specific! For example, don't simply say "Reduce fuel costs." Monitor and track fuel usage, and then aim for a set measurable goal, such as 10% reduction. If possible, have milestones along the way - celebrate when you hit 5%, and encourage your team to keep doing better!
BusBoss can help you streamline your transportation management, cut costs, and still maintain student safety on every bus route. Click here to see our product lineup, or contact us us for more information!
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PRESIDENT
Sonia has been involved with BusBoss since the late 1990’s, and has personally overseen many projects for various customers ranging from large urban and suburban districts to smaller rural school districts from all over the country. In all cases, her primary goal was to improve their transportation operations by reducing their operating expenses while simultaneously improving student safety and parent satisfaction.