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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-25-STAS-minAd Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee June 25, 2012 at 2pm Conference Room, Central Administration Blg Meeting Minutes 1. Attending:, Sharon Kendall, Craig Weeks, Elaine Celi (LPS Transportation), Judy Crocker, Elaine Dratch (TAC), Cpt Ferro (LPD), MaryEllen Dunn (Asst Superintendent) , Jessie Steigerwald (SC liaison). 2. Review minutes of the April 5, May 3,17 meetings. Each was accepted as amended. 3. Draft report of the school bus registration Total enrollment figures as of June 21St were reviewed. 2049 regular passes and 211 Flexpasses were sold for a total of 2260 (35 %). There were a fair number of distance - eligible riders who had not registered (163). The total bus ridership including the potential distance - eligible riders is 2423 (38 %). Bus registration statistics include highest registration - Clarke (59 %), lowest- Fiske (21 %), construction schools Bowman (46 %), Bridge (31 %), and Estabrook (41 %). LHS rose 6% to 24 %. It is not known at this time how many unregistered seats are available on each bus. With the increased bus registration figures, it is apparent that more than FY12's 18 buses will be needed in order to meet the increased demand. In addition, Lexpress buses have less capacity than school buses at 23 seats in its new bus line, which will debut later this week. For FY13, middle school dictates the minimum number of buses needed for the town's school bus service, followed by Estabrook and the other 5 elementary schools. Typically, high school buses have a capacity of 50 students /bus, middle school has 55 students /bus and elementary has 60 students /bus. Financing school buses comes from the School Operating Budget, followed by the Transportation Revolving Fund (parent fees), and lastly by the town subsidy from TM Articles 4 and 17. Theoretically, the TM funding could possibility not be used or at least not in its entirety. It was noted that the SC votes on the fee structure for the bus. The only exception are distance - eligible students, who are defined as being in Grades K -6 and reside more than 2 miles from school. Bus routes are constructed using a software program. It is anticipated that FY13 routes will be different from those of past years due to the increased bus enrollment. There have been some complaints from those students who use the Hayden only service as their fee increased from $200 to $300. Tallies figures are still being determined for the elementary after - school destination program. 4. Strategies for 2012 -13 educational campaign Constructing a visible, engaging, informative, and safe arrival and dismissal program was discussed as being a good gateway into the setting the tone for both students and drivers for the beginning of school. The program would stress safety and the traffic rules at each school. Cpt Ferro informed the committee that anyone in a roadway or crosswalk must wear a reflective vest. Elaine Celi said that LPS ordered inexpensive vests for the classroom emergency kits. She will furnish the ordering information. A discussion concerning who would possibly participate in the program followed. Town Meeting members, SC, PTA, SRTS, and School Council members were mentioned. The PTA Executive Boards were also thought to be another parent - elected group with the inside track on each school, so training would be at a minimum. Laminated signs were proposed with a scripted format in order to make it easy for volunteers to participate in the program and for parents to understand the safety and traffic rules. Upbeat communication is the key to the program. S. Draft of suggested school improvements as they relate to school transportation services using the LPS SIP goal template Members were asked to examine the draft and add their suggestions. MaryEllen Dunn agreed to reformat the draft document. 6. Scheduling summer meetings It was decided not to meet in July as an entire Committee due to vacation schedules. 7. New business • Ray Drapeau (Facilities), Mary Ellen and Judy Crocker met June 15 to discuss how to improve streamlining of summer school infrastructure requests and to standardize such reporting in order for such requests to be more efficiently incorporated into the school capital plan and operating budget. A standardized map will have to be made for each school and it will be labeled with permanent signage, pavement painting, crosswalks, line -of -sight projections at entrance /exit points, clear delineation of dedicated bus lane, school zone - based signage, and reference GIS mapping. Also, the SRTS list of requested summer work for Hastings, Clarke, Diamond, and Bowman was submitted. The group next meets on August 10. Our next meeting will be August 6, 2012 at 2pm in the large Conference Room at Central Administration. Respectively submitted, Judy Crocker