Findlay Schools outlines busing plan

FINDLAY — After a series of busing challenges to start the school year, Findlay City Schools officials are working to stabilize transportation services and improve communication with families. At a Friday morning Board of Education work session, Superintendent Andy Hatton updated board members on the district's progress in addressing the transportation issues. The district began the year short two drivers, losing one before the academic year and another on the first day of school. While the positions have since been filled, Hatton said additional staffing is still needed. "That's just to get us back up to the level we needed to open our school year. However, we also have what are called flex drivers that help us get students to after school activities," Hatton said. "We currently have two flex drivers; we need at least two more." Hatton said FCS is looking to hire about three additional drivers to ensure transportation services across the district. Beyond recruiting, the district is continuing to modernize its routing system. While FCS uses Transfinder software, Hatton acknowledged that the full implementation and training of staff members has lagged in the past. The district is going forward with a six-to-eight week plan to fully integrate the software, provide clean data for the system, offer hands-on training for drivers and dispatchers and update the GPS software on buses. The new GPS system, Zonar, will be installed on all FCS buses. The system connects to the onboard tablets drivers use and integrates with the Stopfinder app, allowing families to track the buses in real time. Currently, families have faced lags up to 20 minutes in tracking updates. Hatton said the upgrades are estimated to cost between $70,000 and $110,000, depending on whether or not buses will require new tablets. He also stressed while the project may be costly, it will result in significant, long-term savings from greater routing efficiency. "We promise efficiency and effectiveness in fiscal responsibility, and that's what we need to do, and that's what we want to do, because there will be long term savings with this into the future," Hatton said. On-site training and GPS installation are projected to be completed in six to eight weeks. Looking ahead Officials and board members discussed restoring high school busing, reducing the K-5 walk radius from two miles to one and limiting the walking distance to bus stops to a quarter mile. Board members expressed strong support for restoring services at the end of the semester, emphasizing student safety as winter approaches. Hatton, however, said he could give no firm deadline at this time. "I will not commit to a timeline," Hatton said. "We will do everything we can to hit aspirational goals at the end of the semester, but I will not promise the community that in January, we will be ready with high school busing or this walk radius. Nine years of rocky, if not failed implementation, to be fixed in four to six weeks is a big, big lift. That's why I don't want to guarantee or promise a timeline." Board members agreed that if services cannot be restored by the end of the semester, they should not be implemented until the following fall semester, noting cold weather as the biggest factor for implementing transportation changes. Recruitment remains a top priority now and in the future for FCS. Treasurer Pam Harrington said each new driver will cost around $55,000 annually, plus training fees. To restore high school busing and reduce K-5 walking distances, the district would need roughly 10 additional drivers. Board members expressed difficulty with finding applicants, discussing new ways to continue advertising and offering creative recruitment efforts. The board's finance committee will meet on Tuesday to review the district's financial outlook and transportation options before taking any further action.