Page 14 - PASBOReportSept2018

“The unfunded mandate that
comes with transporting special

needs and homeless students
is something I wish we could
change. ”
-Donna Robbins
Automate Your Monthly

Robbins notes that the current state funding formula
encourages districts to put as many students on a bus as Reports to Support
possible, which can mean crowded buses and longer routes
for students. Data-Informed Decisions

“I feel that the formula should recognize the high cost
of transporting children with special needs and homeless
students,” says Robbins. “I do understand that creating
a new formula isn't easy, due to the significant regional 5Cast™ Plus is everything you need
differences related to fuel prices, traffic, weather and road for multi-year budgeting and
conditions.” projections - plus the ability to

Manheim Township School District has taken several automate monthly variance analyses,
steps to reduce student transportation costs and increasing quickly produce board-ready financial
their subsidy, such as deeming routes as hazardous when reports, and comply with the ESSA
appropriate and negotiating with their contractors as much site-based reporting requirements.
as possible. They also pre-purchase diesel fuel in bulk.

For Christopher Gray, Transportation Coordinator of
Owen J. Roberts School District in Pottstown, one money Learn more at:
saving approach has been to reduce the number of buses in Forecast5analytics.com/product/5-cast
the fleet. In the contracted bus services, the district expects
to reduce the number of buses from over 90 to around 86-88
for the 2018-19 school year. Josh Rader Senior Account Executive
630.955.7602 | jrader@forecast5analytics.com
“We are a small school district with about 6,500
students, but it covers some 110 square miles,” says Gray.

If Gray could change one thing, it would be in regard to
non-public schools. The district requires that transportation
services must be provided to non-public schools, even on
days when public school is not in service. The variations in
school calendars makes that challenging.

“If it could be changed from 10 miles to five miles, it would IN PROUD
make a huge difference,” says Gray. “Although I don’t see PARTNERSHIP WITH
that happening anytime soon.”

"We are a small school district
with about 6,500 students, but it
covers some 110 square miles" ©2018 Forecast5 Analytics. All Rights Reserved.
- Christopher Gray

11 PASBO Report