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MASB/ISD Symposium on Successful School Collaboration Transportation Services March 6, 2006

MASB/ISD Symposium on Successful School Collaboration Transportation Services March 6, 2006. Thomas B. Princinsky Deputy Superintendent Genesee Intermediate School District. Genesee Intermediate School District Board of Education. Peggy J. Tortorice, President Paul D. Newman, Vice President

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MASB/ISD Symposium on Successful School Collaboration Transportation Services March 6, 2006

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  1. MASB/ISD Symposium on Successful School CollaborationTransportation ServicesMarch 6, 2006 Thomas B. Princinsky Deputy Superintendent Genesee Intermediate School District

  2. Genesee Intermediate School District Board of Education Peggy J. Tortorice, President Paul D. Newman, Vice President Lawrence P. Ford, Secretary Jerry G. Ragsdale, Treasurer Dale A. Green, Trustee Thomas Svitkovich, Ed.D., Superintendent © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  3. About Genesee County • Flint is the central urban center • Urban, suburban and rural communities and districts • Total population: 443,947 (119,716 in City of Flint – 2004) • Home of Mott Community College, Baker College, Kettering University and University of Michigan-Flint • Wide socioeconomic variance - the number of student on free/reduced lunch varies from 0.65% to 91.86% • Increased number of housing starts • Growth in technology-related occupations/jobs © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  4. About Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) • Regional educational service agency • Twenty-one constituent school districts and ten Public School Academies (Charter Schools) • 89,200+ students and 10,200+ educators • Metropolitan, suburban and rural districts with per student foundation grants ranging from $6,875 to $7,857 • $114 million budget with six facilities and nearly 1,000 employees © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  5. GISD’s Primary Roles • Oversight of mandated functions and operation of programs • Provide service, support and leadership • Collaboration • GISD Organization: - Office of the Superintendent - Health, Safety & Nutrition Services - Business Services - Ligon Outdoor Center - Career Technical Education - Mott Middle College - Communications & Development - Special Education Services - Education & Learning - Technology & Media Services - Human Resources & Operations - Transportation Services © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  6. GISD Has a History of Successful, Ongoing Collaborations • Business & Education Coordinating Council • Cooperative Purchasing • Educator Recruitment Fair • GASC Technology Center • GASC Transportation Consortium • GenNET • Greater Flint Educational Consortium • Mott Middle College • PASSPORT – Ready, Set, Grow • School Health Services • School Safety Collaborative • Shared Business Services • Shared Instructional Materials (REMC) • Special Needs Transportation Services • Attendance Intervention © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  7. GISD Accountability Study • Commissioned to measure implementation of the Teaching, Learning and Service Plan; and at the request of the 21 constituent districts to measure community perceptions about education. • Results indicate that Genesee County residents want stronger curriculum, ways to address teacher apathy, more parental involvement, more discipline, character development and greater emphasis on career/job training from their schools. • 66% of accountability study respondents believe GISD plays an important role, and without it, 59% believe local districts would be worse off. • Since 2000, GISD staff providing direct student services throughout the county has increased by 57% and administrative staff has been reduced by 13%. © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  8. GISD Teaching, Learning and Service Plan Teaching, Learning and Service Plan goals: • GISD will provide equal access to quality instructional programs and support services for its constituent districts which lead to increased student achievement and improved preparation for adult roles. [Academic learning] • GISD will provide its constituents equal access to targeted, sustained, research-based professional development to improve the school and community instructional and related delivery systems. [Professional development to support teaching and learning] • GISD will assist constituents with the selection, acquisition, implementation, use and maintenance of technology to increase the effectiveness of teaching and learning. [Equal access to technology to support instructional delivery] • GISD will facilitate collaborative efforts among its constituents and community organizations to maximize resources that address common needs, efficiency of school operations and equal access to programs and services. [Development and utilization of community resources; agency collaboration; inter-district collaboration; cost-containment] • GISD will provide assistance to constituent districts to integrate applied academics and career/employability skills into all curricular areas, and to develop opportunities for structured on-the-job learning combined with classroom instruction. [Development of career and employability skills; integration of on-the-job learning and classroom instruction] © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  9. Specialized Transportation © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  10. The Process • Result of strategic planning • Goal was to improve quality and reduce costs • Have GISD transport the students that attend their programs • Move the day-to-day problems away from the local districts © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  11. Infrastructure • GISD – we had none • GIESPA – union with 200+ employees • No buses and no garages • Director of Business Management Services with transportation experience • Win – Win Negotiations © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  12. Working With the Unions • MEA – include transportation with existing bargaining unit • Pilot the first year – no dues • Paid a completive wage and controlled the cost of health insurance • No guarantee to hire from local districts • Hired from a local – retained the right to return first year © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  13. Local School District Unions • Director of Business Management Services presentations • Theme – improve quality and reduce costs • Not a real pleasant experience • Union opposition along with anyone else they could find • Local school district board approved resolution • Resolution approved by GISD Board of Education © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  14. Infrastructure for Buses and Garages • Leased special education buses from the local districts • End of 1st year (Pilot) purchased for the amortized value • Stored and parked at local school district garages • Serviced at local school districts garages • Cost plus 15% • GISD hires all staff • Consortium Steering Committee helps facilitate the process © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  15. Cost to Participate – First Year (Group 1) • Charged the actual cost per student • December 1 student count • GISD paid the upfront costs and billed back at end of the first year • Actual cost per student - $3,377 © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  16. Cost to Participate – Second Year • 100% special education – 70% reimbursement on previous year costs • Group 1 - $1,044 per student (their second year in the consortium) • Group 2 - $3,398 per student (their first year in the consortium) • Continued the process for new consortium members • Consortium Steering Committee helps facilitate the process • Continue expansion from 8 districts in 1997-1998 to 21 districts 2005-2006 © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  17. Cost to Participate – 2005-2006 • Last district in the consortium - $6,479 per student (first year) • Other consortium members - $1,027 per student • $1,027 cost per student for the last three years © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  18. Are These Really Savings? • Saved over $27.8 million in special education transportation costs • GISD does not have garage costs • Pick up students from multiple districts • Maximum number of students on the bus • Receive 70% reimbursement on costs • Subsidize the consortium cost with Act 18 funds • Superintendents Association supports the concept • GISD purchases average of 12 buses per year with Act 18 funds • Even without subsidizing consortium realizes savings © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  19. Impact on GISD • In 8 years we went from 0 to 156+ transportation employees • 200+ to 360+ employees in same bargaining unit • Transportation employees maximum allowance on health insurance • Zero buses to 95 buses • Zero students to 850 in December 1 count © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  20. Extensive Transportation Training Program Transportation team standard procedure training includes: • CPR • First Aid • Bloodborne Pathogens • Loading Wheelchair Students • Placement of Wheelchairs • Wheelchair Securement • Securing Students Using Child Restraint System – Seat Belts • Evacuation Procedures • Proper Use of Fusees – Flares • Proper Use of Fire Extinguisher • Staking Out a Disabled Bus © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  21. Extensive Training (cont.) Current training may include: • Diastat • Basic Seizure Protocol • Individual Seizure Protocol • Tracheal Suctioning • Oral Suctioning • Use and Care in Transporting Oxygen • Breathing Treatment – On the Bus • Glucometer – Glucose Testing • Epi-pen • Vagus Nerve Stimulation – Magnet Swipe • A Basic Course in Simple Sign Language – Adapted for Transporting Students • CPI – Crisis Prevention Intervention © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  22. Customer Satisfaction Survey • Conducted annually • 7 Questions: • Pick up and delivery times • Communication – bus team and office staff • Emotional and physical needs of student • Overall grade • Lowest Grade: • 95% on pick up and delivery times • 96% to 97% other areas • Overall 97% A or B © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  23. GASC Transportation Consortium Separate Consortium for Career Technical Education Students • Separate from special education • Resulted from Superintendent’s Committee Cost Containment • Goal is to reduce cost and improve efficiency • Totally different customer base © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  24. GASC Transportation - Process • Established a base for the 2003-2004 school year • Total GASC Tech Center enrollments, bus routes, ride times, etc. • Surveyed districts, determined driver costs for wages, FICA, retirement Agreed to use $1.00 per mile as an estimate in projecting savings • Utilized GASC Consortium Steering Committee to facilitate the process © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  25. Survey Results • 3 GASC Technology Center sessions • Serve over 2,200 students • Transporting to and from 28 area high schools • Minimum of 23 to 28 buses traveling per session © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  26. Costs Reported by Districts $447,847 Miles per year $410,345 Driver pay, FICA, retirement $858,192 Per year cost or $4.2 million Over 5 years if frozen costs © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  27. The Projections • Reduce the number of buses from 23 to 28 per session to 13 routes • Reduce miles traveled by 242,647 per year or $242,647 • Reduce driver costs $219,830 • Projected annual savings $462,477 Or $2.3 million in savings over 5 years if frozen costs © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  28. The Implementation • Fast track & commitment June 2, 2004 • Followed similar model as special education • GASC Transportation Consortium steering committee • Separate consortium – don’t jeopardize special education • No additional supervisory or office staff • We manage program together • Leases some buses from local school districts • GISD bids lease/purchase option on buses • 12 districts joined the consortium the 1st year © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  29. Consortium Member Savings and Growth • First year members saved over $200,000 in transportation costs • GISD subsidized the lease cost of 2 buses – real number is $172,000 • Second year 19 districts are in the consortium • Projecting over $400,000 annual savings in transportation costs • Continue partial subsidy from GISD Career Technical Education budget © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  30. Transportation Consortiums Reduce Costs • GISD pays a competitive wage – maximum allowance on health insurance • Reduced the number of employees • Reduced miles driven • Caution – review the information you receive in your survey • Audit and double check the travel times • Critical to know start and end times of area high schools • Regular runs – extra runs © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

  31. Conclusion • As of today’s date, not one person (bus driver/aide) has stepped forward with the name of anyone who has lost their job because of the consortiums CONSORTIUM COMMITMENT COOPERATION COMMUNICATION © 2006 Genesee Intermediate School District Genesee County’s Regional Educational Service Agency

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