Transcript Public Consultation Meeting 7:00 pm, Wednesday March 29, 2006 2006/2007 Shared Transportation Plans for Millbrook/South Cavan PS, North Cavan PS and South Monaghan.

Public Consultation Meeting
7:00 pm, Wednesday March 29, 2006
2006/2007 Shared Transportation Plans for
Millbrook/South Cavan PS, North Cavan PS and South Monaghan PS.
Meeting Purpose
• Provide an overview of shared transportation plans
for Millbrook/South Cavan, North Cavan and
South Monaghan Public Schools.
• Seek input from school communities concerning
proposed plans.
• Describe next steps.
Shared Transportation
• In 2005 KPRDSB and PVNCCDSB formed a
shared transportation organization called:
“Student Transportation Services of Central
Ontario” (STSCO for short).
• STSCO integrates all planning and provision of
student transportation for local School Boards.
• STSCO oversees the daily operation of all home to
school transportation for local school boards
which includes transporting over 32,000 students
to 136 schools.
STSCO’S Organization
1. Governance Committee made up of Board
Chairs, Directors and Business
Superintendents.
2. Administration Team made up of Business
Superintendents and Chief Administrative
Officer.
3. Staff reporting to Chief Administrative
Officer.
Efficiency Review Projects
• The Boards have asked that STSCO consider additional
shared transportation for the 2006/07 school year.
• Four major areas are being reviewed, including
Cavan/Millbrook/South Monaghan, Peterborough,
Courtice and Bowmanville.
• Plans involve either:
 students sharing ride to school together where schools are near
each other and boundary areas are similar; or
 multiple running of buses, where vehicles complete two separate
bus routes and transport two sets of students consecutively.
Multiple Running of Buses
 This approach is commonly used by the local
school boards and across the Province.
 Bell times are staggered by up to one hour to
allow vehicles to serve two schools in a row.
 There are currently 144 buses serving 64 schools
on a multiple run basis within the jurisdiction of
local school boards.
Planning Approach
• A major consideration in the multiple running of
buses concerns distance between schools and
associated boundaries.
• A comprehensive approach is necessary in order to
balance a wide range of issues.
• Changes to transportation should consider:
 appropriately planning bus routes and stops;
 implications for students (school hours, ride time);
 implications for school and staff (school hours,
supervision, bus loading zones etc.); and
 financial implications (cost savings).
Current Busing Network
• Currently three separate sets of buses deliver
students to Millbrook/South Cavan, North Cavan
and South Monaghan Public Schools:
Millbrook/South Cavan - 5 buses
North Cavan - 4 buses
South Monaghan - 4 buses
Total = 13 buses
2006/07 Plans
• The number of buses serving each school
would remain the same:
• 5 for Millbrook/South Cavan;
• 4 for North Cavan; and
• 4 for South Monaghan.
• The aggregate number of buses would be
reduced from 13 to 8 as five will be double
run and serve two schools, one after the other.
2006/07 Plans Continued
• Millbrook/South Cavan:
5 bus routes serve the school in the morning
and afternoon and when these runs are
completed, all 5 buses serve other schools.
• North Cavan:
4 bus routes serve the school (3 after having
served Millbrook/South Cavan).
• South Monaghan:
4 bus routes serve the school (2 after having
served Millbrook/South Cavan).
Current Bell Times
Millbrook/South Cavan North Cavan South Monaghan -
8:40 am to 3:00 pm
8:45 am to 3:05 pm
8:45 am to 3:15 pm
Planned 2006/07 Bell Times
Millbrook/South Cavan North Cavan South Monaghan -
8:20 am to 2:50 pm
9:20 am to 3:50 pm
9:20 am to 3:50 pm
School Day Changes
• Millbrook/South Cavan starts 20 minutes earlier,
ends 10 minutes earlier.
• North Cavan starts 35 minutes later, finishes 45
minutes later.
• South Monaghan starts 35 minutes later and ends
35 minutes later.
Implications for Students/Families
• Bell time changes may necessitate adjustment of
family schedules at beginning and end of day.
• Students at Millbrook/South Cavan will board
buses earlier in the morning and arrive home
earlier in the afternoon.
• Students at North Cavan and South Monaghan
will board buses later in the morning and arrive
home later in the afternoon.
Implications for Schools/Staff
• School day will shift according to new hours.
• Bus supervision at each school would be similar to
this year (i.e. arrive 10 to 15 minutes prior to bell
in the morning and depart 5 to 10 minutes after
bell in the afternoon).
• Double running of buses requires cooperative
administration between schools.
Financial Implications
• Reducing number of buses used will result in savings
for Boards (est. $100,000 per year).
• Fewer vehicles and less km traveled will minimize
wear and tear on roads, as well as reduce exhaust
emissions.
Other Issues
• Schools will be supported by STSCO in maintaining
safety and good student behaviour on buses.
• Resources available include:
 First Rider Program
 Emergency evacuation training
 Student behaviour management training for bus drivers
 video surveillance onboard buses
Next Steps
1) March to early-April - Gather input from school
community and others.
 email [email protected]
2) Late-April - Finalize plans taking into account
input received, notify school communities.
Next Steps Continued
3) June – Distribute busing information to families
and schools.
4) August – Open Interactive Voice Response
(IVR) system for use in families confirming bus
information.
5) September – School begins and new shared
transportation system launched.