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Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation Steering Committee 2024-2025

September 10, 2024

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Goals & Purpose

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The PURPOSE of this steering committee is to have a diverse set of stakeholders to:

  1. Have multiple perspectives to represent more than just one group
  2. Review feedback from other stakeholders to make recommendations about next steps
  3. Develop and support with how the recommendations from the transportation study can best be implemented
  4. Provide input and recommendations about future products, communication strategies, and innovation.

Our GOAL is to determine how to offer a quality school transportation service that supports the instructional needs of students.

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Introductions

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Introduce yourself by sharing your name, role in MCPS or connection to MCPS, and one of your favorite memories from when you were in school.

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Community Agreements

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  • Take space and make space
  • Trust intent and name impact
  • Be respectful
  • Challenge the idea, not the person
  • Embrace discomfort
  • Hold space for multiple voices and perspectives

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WHY did we conduct a Transportation Study?

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  • 103,000 of almost 160,000 students
  • 2,000+ staff members
  • 7 depots
  • 1,486 buses
  • 19.8M miles traveled (SY23-24) and 112,000 miles traveled daily
  • Leadership transitions
  • Increased service demands
  • Nationwide bus driver shortage
  • Integration of the electric fleet
  • 163 missed bus routes from September 2022-February 2023

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Transportation Study

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WHAT is a transportation study and WHAT was the purpose of the MCPS transportation study?

A transportation study is a comprehensive evaluation of DOT’s efficiency and effectiveness by external subject matter experts.

The purpose was to provide initial findings and chart a sustainable path forward.

HOW was the MCPS transportation study conducted?

Onsite observations

Comprehensive onsite Interviews with staff

Data and information provided

WHO conducted the MCPS transportation study?

Center for Effective School Operations , LLC (CESCO), https://theceso.com/

WHEN was the MCPS transportation study conducted?

September 2023 through January 2024

WHAT has been implemented from the study findings thus far?

Readying the organization; creating the conditions; understanding the recommendations

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Key Findings from the Transportation Study

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  • DOT’s strength lies in its legacy processes, the knowledge and experience of its staff, and its dedication to maintaining stable and efficient daily operations.
  • It is important to care for people on the journey ahead-- institutional knowledge and commitment to DOT and students.
  • Focus on change management:
    • Take time to understand what the report says ( at least 6 months)
    • Establish a change management team
    • Gain full organization-wide support encouraging a long-term commitment
    • 3-5 year implementation period

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Key Findings from the Transportation Study Continued…

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  • Current operational success and stability are precarious
  • A data centric shift in organizational culture is required.
  • Climate change exigencies and community expectations demand a continued transition to an electric fleet.
  • The DOT focuses on vehicle maintenance and repair, whereas successful fleet management encompasses a broader set of activities.

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Initial Input

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  • What is working well?
  • Where do you see opportunities for improvement?
  • What additional resources, research, and data do we need to better inform our collaboration and recommendations?

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Findings & Recommendations from the Study

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Center for Effective School Operations (CESO)

  • Baseline Conditions
  • Change Management Plan
  • Routing, Technology, and Fleet
  • Contracts and Financial Management
  • Personnel Management
  • Executive Summary

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Feedback and Next Steps

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