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Recent Problems With District Bus Routes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 24, 2008

2002 - A state report on district transportation problems and a bus driver shortage identifies issues of the bus driver turnover rate, low driver pay, lack of benefits and incentives.

June 2006 - An outside report done at a cost to the district of $15,000 labels the transportation department "inefficient" and "deficient," faulting low pay and high turnover of bus drivers for delays. It recommends the district recruit and retain 150 additional drivers by August. Superintendent MaryEllen Elia acknowledges, "We have huge problems," and says the next step is to hire a consultant to figure out how to implement the report.

July 26, 2006 - The Hillsborough School Board votes to pay up to $225,000 to Management Partnership Services Inc. to offer ideas for its failing transportation system. The company has been paid $271,852.

January 2007 - After its initial report confirms a complex, inefficient system, MPS consultants conclude the district needs to rebuild its transportation system from the bottom up. The downside: Children would have to walk farther to bus stops. The upside: Fewer drivers and stops will be needed, increasing efficiency and getting students to school on time.

June 25, 2007 - John Franklin, head of transportation for an 18,000-20,000 student school district in San Antonio, takes over to implement a new plan. Hillsborough transports more than 90,000 students a day.

October 2007 - More than a month after school starts, south Hillsborough parents still say late buses are causing their children to miss morning classes. A computerized software system creates new routes without considering practical input from drivers and former route coordinators. Franklin confirms "time constraints" rolling out the pilot program eliminated dry runs for drivers on the new routes. School board members bluntly tell Elia to get children to school on time. Plans to expand the plan districtwide are delayed, and will instead be rolled out in stages.

March 2008 - District officials say they are looking at eliminating riders who live less than two miles from their schools and cutting some after-school drop-offs at day care. Jack Davis, the district's chief information and technology officer who oversees the transportation department, tells school board members, "You're going to get phone calls."

Week of May 12 - The district sends home 120,000 letters with students who ride buses, saying there are changes coming in August that may have an impact on their service. Questions are to go to the new call center number effective June 30.

May 21-Aug. 7 - The district holds parent information meetings at 16 high schools, alerting families with an automated phone message. Specific bus stop information is not available.

Aug. 4 - The district mails 35,000 notices of new bus stops and times to families in the 2007 pilot area of south Hillsborough plus the three new areas

Aug. 15 - The transportation call center is jammed with families wanting information. Elia apologizes to parents for not getting information on bus stops to them sooner. She extends hours for the call center to 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Aug. 18 - Schools open with parents still unable to reach the call center to get information. Eight people are answering phones at the call center.

Aug. 23 - The call center is closed for the weekend.

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