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Key Aspects of the Board of Education Presentation

Potential loss of instructional hours for students
Current driver statistics
The recommendations of the committee
BOE feedback

Full 01/19/23 BOE presentation linked here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_5I79Go_yZfmJYj-ma6TL_HFNLzZzfFn/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100909218601355184343&rtpof=true&sd=true

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Potential Impact to Instructional Hours Due to Staffing Shortage

School Level	Number of Students Assigned to Buses (average)	Potential Hours of Missed Instruction
Elementary	20 students (60 RES, MGES, EHES, MSES)	1,240 hours
Middle	45 students (SMS averages 30 students)	1,710 hours
High	30 students	1,240 hours
Total	40 students per bus	3,950 hours

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | chccs.org

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Driver Availability Comparison

Transportation Staffing Update
	December 15, 2022	January 12, 2023
Total Number of AM/PM Drivers	43	40
Number of AM Only Drivers	10	10
Number of PM Only Drivers	1	1
Number of Drivers on FMLA	4	6
Number of Licensed Office Staff	7	7
Number of Office Staff Available to Drive	5	4
Number of Pending Drivers with Incidents	1	2
The district transports 4042 students via yellow bus and 152 through contracted services. There was also committee conversation surrounding the district requiring TAs and custodians to obtain CDLs to increase the pool of drivers.

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Uncovered Routes Comparison

Month	Total School Days	Transportation Impacted Days (uncovered routes)
November	18	15
December	12	8
January (12th cut off)	9	9
Total	39	32
18 of the 20 district schools have been impacted by uncovered morning buses. The transportation department sends the first available bus once their assigned routes are completed.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | chccs.org

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Review of Optimization Committee’s Findings

The committee analyzed and developed three strategies to address the transportation crisis affecting the district. The listing order does not suggest ranking or committee prioritization. The strategies are as follows:

Bell schedule changes
Changes to magnet school services
Hybrid model- extending student walk zone and consolidating neighborhood stops

*The committee also looked at the possibility of combining portions of each option.

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Bell Schedule Optimization

(Strategy 1)

The bell schedule optimization created the following:

A need for an additional tier of service; preferably at the elementary level.

The district currently utilizes three tiers with all schools on the same schedule within the given tier. The transportation department can not accommodate this schedule on a daily basis.

The creation of the fourth tier would allow nearly all buses to service all four tiers.

This requires seven elementary schools to start around 7:30 AM and four schools to start around 7:50 AM. This would increase bus lag time allowing for increase utilization and expansion of the operational window.

Implementation of common or consolidated stops.

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Pros/Cons of Bell Optimization

Pros

The entire fleet would be available to service the early elementary schools, thereby minimizing the time students would need to be at bus stops.
A much higher percentage of buses would arrive on time.

Cons

Staff securing childcare is a concern among the early schools.
Staff that work outside of the district having to get to school earlier.
Staff concerns over student tardies and absences.

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Magnet Service Changes

(Strategy 2)

Over half of the district’s schools contain a magnet component that is currently serviced by the transportation department.

The suggested changes included three phases.

Common Stops (transfer model)

Stops established for all students within a neigborhood regardless of school assignment.

All students in the same grade levels would be picked up and transported to their local/domiciled school.
Transfer buses would pick students up and transport magnet students to their assigned program.

Elementary students travel distance would increased to .3 of a mile.
Secondary students travel distance would increased to .5 of a mile.

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Magnet Service Changes

2. School Stops (Hub Station Model)

Various schools would be designated as “shuttle stops” for student drop off and pick up.
Parents are responsible for getting students to and from shuttle stop location.

3. The elimination of magnet school transportation.

The third option that has been presented was to eliminate all magnet program transportation. Those that favor this option emphasized this being a choice by students and parents, therefore transportation should become apart of the choice.

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Magnet School Shuttle Options

Transfer Model Pros

Increased bus capacity utilization
Potential reduction in required buses
Students would retain stops within close proximity to home address

Transfer Model Cons

Significant coordination required for transfer bus timing
Supervision necessary for students awaiting transfer
Potential for increase in ride times for magnet students
Local students experience a significant delay in the afternoon waiting on transfer bus

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Magnet School Shuttle Options

Hub Station Model Pros

Decreased ride times for magnet students
Shuttle stops would potentially be paired together to leverage capacity and time
Local school students transportation would not be affected

Hub Station Model Cons

Magnet students would lose their neighborhood stop
Increased school traffic
Potential barrier to access for some students creating equity concerns

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Magnet School Shuttle Options

Elimination Pros

Potential significant reduction in buses required
Bus ride times within Board established ride times (45 minutes or less)

Elimination Cons

Potential barriers to access for some students creating equity concerns
Increased car traffic surrounding magnet schools
Capacity concerns for local and magnet schools

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The following chart analyzes the possible changes that have been collected from the committee, individual community contributors and the board of education. The percentages represent a range of efficiency as it relates to the problem. It should be noted that the solutions are interdependent and percentages should not be added.

For example, consolidated stips can be used with bell optimization as well as any of the magnet school options.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | chccs.org

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Possible Changes

Proposed Changes Estimated Percentage Efficiency

Bell schedule- adding a 4th tier 80-100%

Increasing the driver pool (including 18-year olds) 60-80%

Requiring TA's and custodians to obtain a CDL 60-80%

Extension of the student walk zones (BOE eliminated option) ??????

Increase driver pay 40-60%

Consolidation of bus stops 40-60%

Transfer model for magnet programs 40-60%

Hub station model for magnet programs 40-60%

Parental responsibility to transport magnet students 40-6o%

Market new dual position jobs 0-20%

*These options are independent entities

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Suggestions

We would love to receive any feedback available to help resolve this matter. Please feel free to enter any suggestions you may have in the chat. If you are unable to access the chat please email Felicia Glenn, Executive Secretary fglenn@chccs.k12.nc.us