Timberlane Regional School District Minutes Template s1

Transportation Advisory Committee MINUTES NOVEMBER 12, 2015 10 – 11 AM SAU BOARDROOM

TYPE OF MEETING District Admin with Bus Companies

FACILITATOR Sandra Hodgkins, Transportation Coordinator Sandra Hodgkins, George Stokinger, Geoff Dowd, Beth Rincon, Bill Mealey, JoAnn Georgian, Mike Flynn, ATTENDEES JoAnn Freeman, Marie Hill, Garrett Scholes, Chris Taft AGENDA Follow agenda for meeting

Agenda topics 10- 15 MINUTES UPDATES FROM BUS COMPANIES

Updates from Provider (Garrett Scholes and Chris Taft): things going well; Addressing issues as they happen; DISCUSSION made extra efforts to secure successful transportation for Monarch students; Informed driver does not need a CDL license to drive mini-bus. Updates from First Student (JoAnn Freeman, Division Manager and Marie Hill, Safety Supervisor and dispatcher): Continue to struggle to get new applicants trained; if they fail test have to wait 10 days to re-test. 4 written test required, plus road test; some folks feel it is too much work. First Student has advertised widely and offered incentives, but don’t have the applicants. The biggest hurdle to retaining drivers is during the summer drivers file for unemployment and must also actively look for another job without refusing work. Sometimes they find a job and do not come back in September. Drivers also don’t get paid for snow days. Companies have to roster drivers with the State in order to drive in any District. Makes it harder to swap drivers with other districts. First Student registers all their spare drivers with many districts to keep them on the ready. CONCLUSIONS Bus companies and Districts follow the Safe C’s: the laws that govern student transportation

ACTION ITEMS PERSON RESPONSIBLE DEADLINE Continue to help and support advertising for new driver applicants Help with educational barriers: contact state agencies involved in hiring, training and licensing drivers. Are they aware of the shortage due to regulations and process?

DISCUSS WAYS TO HELP IMPROVE 10 MINUTES TRANSPORTATION

DISCUSSION Ways to Improve Transportation Contact NHSTA: work with them to develop a good recruiting system that works with the state Regulations are all controlled by DOT which makes it very difficult to test and pass new drivers. Must get the word out that the process needs to be simplified while still keeping the integrity to get good safe CONCLUSIONS drivers. Can Provider buses be used for regular Ed; possible added expense First Student has new cameras- checked very sporadically; Provider has cameras in every bus except one and are checked at every oil change. ACTION ITEMS PERSON RESPONSIBLE DEADLINE Possibly send letters to State government agencies expressing our concerns. Consensus of Committee: Superintendents appeal to state/NHIAA to reverse recent rulings/laws concerning unemployment laws and possible DOT regulations to streamline the process better to entice more applicants for bus drivers.

REVIEW RECOMMENDATION BY ATHLETICS 10 MINUTES COMMITTEE TO SUSPEND FINES FOR SPORTS

Should the practice of off-loading a bus to cover a sports event induce a fine against bus company for being short a DISCUSSION driver? Sandy explains “off-loading” – when drivers need to be pulled from their route to cover for a route missing a driver or to cover a sports bus. Students are then combined on other buses to be transported to/from school. Sandy explained in contract, penalty for “off-loading”. Athletic Advisory Committee ask to suspend any fines on the bus company when off-loading for the purposes of covering sports trips so the event will not be cancelled. Sandy keeps data on reason why bus company cannot fulfil routes.

CONCLUSIONS Do not want to see games cancelled due to not having transportation. Consider the effort by bus company to provider drivers for sports events as well as home to school routes.

ACTION ITEMS PERSON RESPONSIBLE DEADLINE Recommend when it is the district’s choice to “off-load” to cover sports trip, suspend the fine. Continue to fine for buses not in use that we are having to pay for.

10 MINUTES COMMUNICATION TO PARENTS

How can we get timely messages out to parents when there is a bus issue due to shortage of drivers (off-loading), DISCUSSION bus incidents/accidents or lateness due to breakdowns. First Student

CONCLUSIONS Use Alert Now, Twitter, etc Work with Zonar which is currently installed in the buses for both companies

ACTION ITEMS PERSON RESPONSIBLE DEADLINE Check with Windham on the system they use Mike Flynn Invite John Holland to next meeting to discuss options

10 MINUTES FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

DISCUSSION Invite John Holland to discuss communication to parents; expand communication with parents/drivers and district staff Review protocol for loading students quickly after school; Invite Angelo Fantasia to discuss sports schedules CONCLUSIONS

ACTION ITEMS PERSON RESPONSIBLE DEADLINE Reserve boardroom for next meeting Sandy Hodgkins Share agenda and info on SharePoint

OBSERVERS RESOURCE PERSONS SPECIAL NOTES Next meeting February 11, 2016