HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-01-STAS-minAd Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee
November 1, 2012 at gam
Conference Room, Central Administration Blg
Meeting Minutes
1. Attending:Judy Crocker, Elaine Dratch (TAC), MaryEllen Dunn (Asst
Superintendent), Sharon Kendall, Craig Weeks
Guest: Bonnie Brown
2. October meeting minutes were accepted as amended.
3. School Bus Registration Update
Total enrollment figures as of October 24thwere reviewed. These included:
School Bus Ridership FY13 vs FY12
Ms. Dunn pointed out that the projected budget included 18 buses. Town Meeting
funding received through the Article 17 School Bus Subsidy was used to balance the
increase to 24 buses. Of the 24 buses, 5 are used for two tiers instead of three. The
most inefficient tier is LHS with approximately 300 unused seats. However, there
are fewer buses running two -tiers that FY12.
FY13 saw an increase in the number of families eligible for the Family Cap while
requests for financial waivers saw no change. There was also an increase in Eligible
for Town Paid riders. The end result is that 60% of the ridership paid full price and
40% received a discount or were free.
The Flexpass program saw an increase of 122 riders. Ms. Dratch of the
Transportation Advisory Board (TAC) reported that the journal entry of the $50
FY13
FY12
Change
Total Ridership
41%
31%
+10%
Range of Ridership
26 % -64%
18 % -58%
# Buses
24
18
+6
Avg Bus Capacity
82%
(85% ES,82% MS,79% HS)
57%
(65% ES,68% MS,37% HS)
+25%
# Routes
59
44
+15
# Students
2641
2061
+580
Waitlist
15
NA
+15
# Late Registrations
370
NA
+370
Flexpass
255
133
+122
ES After - school
Destinations
180
NA
+180
Ms. Dunn pointed out that the projected budget included 18 buses. Town Meeting
funding received through the Article 17 School Bus Subsidy was used to balance the
increase to 24 buses. Of the 24 buses, 5 are used for two tiers instead of three. The
most inefficient tier is LHS with approximately 300 unused seats. However, there
are fewer buses running two -tiers that FY12.
FY13 saw an increase in the number of families eligible for the Family Cap while
requests for financial waivers saw no change. There was also an increase in Eligible
for Town Paid riders. The end result is that 60% of the ridership paid full price and
40% received a discount or were free.
The Flexpass program saw an increase of 122 riders. Ms. Dratch of the
Transportation Advisory Board (TAC) reported that the journal entry of the $50
Flexpass fee received by Lexpress will be recorded in Feb /March. Seats continue to
be sold. Ms. Celi is working with the town's Transportation Office to orchestrate the
money transfer from LPS. It is estimated to be approximately $12,000.
As of October 24, outstanding parent fee funds yet to be collected equal $22,000,
which is lower than previous years at this date. Monies from Article 17 will be
returned to the Town and are estimated to be $50,000- 75,000.
For FY13, principal obstacles identified for increasing school bus ridership include
the LHS X -Block (voluntary Wednesday first morning class) and the elementary
extended day program. The FY12 Article 4 Estabrook school bus subsidy will be
part of the FY13 LPS budget. Questions of how many riders will the current
program keep moving forward into FY14 and how to best budget the program was
discussed. The FY13 total program expense is$1.8 million less parent fees for $1.1
million, and FY14 will need to include SPED pressures with 6 open contracts.
The discussion included roles of the SC, BoS, and the community. 2012 Town
Meeting members were vocal in stating that they felt that school transportation
should fall in the LPS budget. The SC balances educational choices and the pressure
points such involves. The SC has stated that its philosophy prioritizes a teacher
over a bus. The question of how to take the pressure away from the SC and LPS
with its finite resources must be addressed. What would LPS be willing to trade?
The SC recognizes transportation as a line item expense whose cost, moving
forward, is wholly within the LPS budget. The policy and political question is how
to best finance school transportation.
The present increase in ridership has had a positive impact on the community and
the current rider base should be maintained and further cultured. The elementary
after - school bus has filled a need within the community. However, it cannot be
financially sustained without additional income. The suggestion of offering the
service for a $50 fee to make it equitable with the Flexpass service was discussed.
Another problem with the service is that some after - school programs begin too
close to school dismissal. For example, 275 students attend the Russian School of
Math that begins at 3:30pm. The Recreation Dept is not participating. The service
appears to be most efficient when students participate 3 days out -of -five. The
service operates during the unstructured part of the student's day with limited
supervision. The primary parent complaint is that the students need to have time
for an after - school snack. However, there is no time upon being dismissed from
school, on the bus, or upon arriving at their destination. Also, there is a staff cost
for this bus operation. A winter meeting of the non - profits involved in the program
will be planned to discuss these issues and how to best reach a value -based
partnership.
How best to integrate the school bus as a 21St century mass transit model needs to
be affirmed with LPS and the SC. The MAPC /MAGIC study of alternative mass
transit regional models was questioned if it could be an applicable opportunity to
Lexington. The specifics of the program will be forwarded to the Committee for
future discussion. The SC is required to transport students to and from home and
school. LPS is entering new territory in expanding its scope. The idea of LPS
partnering with the Town Transportation Office would involve separating cost and
staffing. It is not a taxi service but instead a service by C &W similar to the MBTA. If
the community endorses the premise, then it could be run thru a subcontract and
be a separate entity under the SC and Town. An alternative is to offer an RFP for all
vendors. Coordination will be needed between administration and those providing
the service. Conversations will need to be had between SC, BoS, and the community
in order to determine how to maintain this successful program.
Middle school routes appear to be the balancing fulcrum on this transportation
scale as they drive the flexibility of the tiered bus system. 4 -5 additional buses
could be added to increase the efficiency of the MS routes. The present MS
dedicated bus lanes are proving inadequate for the current number of buses.
Therefore, designs for a new bus loop at Clarke between Facilities and Ms. Dunn is
ongoing and accommodations will also have to be made at Diamond on the Sedge
Rd entrance. Also, the ES tier benefit from focusing on the MS tier.
Other untapped opportunities include one -way service.
4. C &W Informational Field Trip - Comments
Comments were very positive from the 3 BoS (Mr. Cohen, Kelly, and Manz) and 2 SC
(Ms. Coppe and Steigerwald) members who took part in the school bus ride - alongs.
'Wow, I had no idea..." was a comment often heard by the bus drivers. The riders
were impressed with how well the drivers knew their students, their routes, as well
as common problem areas on their drives. Others found the number of parents in
the school traffic shocking as well as how many of these parents arrived to school
late. One BoS member was shocked to see four cars drive thru the bus' active
flashing lights. Mr. Manz will feature his experience in a future Colonial Times
article. The Committee was disappointed that the Superintendent and principals
did not participate and felt that there lack of interest underscored that school
transportation is not a priority.
S. Spring Town Meeting - possible articles
Captain Ferro is researching how neighboring communities enforce school
property roadway rules. Ms. Crocker will meet with BoS Mr. Cohen to discuss how
to place the concept of a town by -law allowing police to properly enforce and
penalize those who fail to follow posted traffic rules on school property.
After communicating with Mr. Valenti, Captain Ferro, and others, Marc Valenti of
DPW will be spearheading the school zone signage improvements and their costs.
6. Operation Yellow Blitz 2012
Lexington had the distinction of hosting one of the Operation Yellow Blitz sites in
MA. This involves state police monitoring certain sites for drivers who may pass
illegally pass through school bus flashing lights. One citation was issued. This was
unfortunate for school bus drivers report many more on a regular basis.
7. STS School Improvement Plan Goals
Tabled until a future date.
8. New Business
Mr. Weeks and Ms. Crocker will invite Ms. Mauger (BoS) and Ms. Coppe (SC) for an
informal discussion on how best to move forward with school transportation for
FY14, focusing on financing, maintaining, and building upon current improvements.
Our next meeting will be January 3, 2013 at gam in the lower Conference Room at
Central Administration.
Respectively submitted,
Judy Crocker