Most students and parents in the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) system have experienced positive encounters with bus drivers.
Others however, are not convinced that the IPS Transportation Department is meeting its commitment of providing “safe and reliable transportation.” They have dealt with buses arriving late, students being stranded at bus stops and poor communication between the school system and a company it has hired to provide drivers.
Those days, according to IPS officials, are coming to an end quickly.
IPS Superintendent Eugene White recently unveiled a plan to improve bus service during a meeting with parents at the John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services, which serves as the school district’s headquarters.
Among other changes, the plan calls for administrative adjustments, a new accountability system and upgraded technology to create a more efficient bus system, as a well as a more pleasant environment for drivers and students alike.
“Far too often in our transportation department we were putting everyone else before the students,” White said. “We introduced this plan because that had to change.”
According to the plan more timely service and better collaboration will occur between IPS and contractor First Student, whose drivers carry about 70 percent of the districts students to school.
“We’ve been separated and we’ve made excuses and assigned blame,” White said. “We’re going to stop that. We’re just IPS transportation now.”
To help in the process to promote greater efficiency, former transportation director Gene Moore will be elevated to a new position that will report directly to the superintendent. Dexter Suggs, principal of Emma Donnan Middle School, will be named director of transportation operations and communication and oversee the day-to-day operations of the department.
More compliance monitors will be put in place to increase efficiency. Also, buses will be outfitted with new GPS tracking devices that will help the department track drivers on their routes to reduce the amount of missed pickups.
To ensure a more peaceful atmosphere, a new 10-point behavior system will be implemented to give disruptive students an opportunity to either change their behavior, or face losing the privilege of riding the bus.
The plan was created following numerous complaints from parents about drivers talking on cell phones while driving, listening to inappropriate music and leaving students stranded in adverse situations. It was drafted with recommendations from an audit by the Council of the Great City Schools, as well as the input of employees and citizens.
Suggs said the new plan, which should be fully implemented by the fall, will ensure parents that all drivers are held to a standard of accountability.
“We’re going to show you that we’re going to be about the business of ensuring your child receives a safe transportation to school and from school,” Suggs said.
So far most parents and students have reacted favorably to the proposed changes.
“It seems like a nice step in the right direction,” said Sheryl Franklin, who has a daughter who recently graduated from an IPS school. “In the past we experienced problems, but everything should be fine now that they are taking steps to correct problems that were ignored for a long time.”
Kennedy Ray Walker, who walked his two nephews (ages 15 and 9) to their bus stop this school year, agrees with Franklin.
“Although we haven’t had trouble out of the drivers, my nephew said that many kids have their ride disrupted by other students, which isn’t cool,” said Walker. “I think having more monitors is a good idea because it will keep confusion down on those buses.”
For student Sierra Blackmon, a 16-year-old sophomore, the plan is a welcome development, although she has herself had no problem with the bus system.
“I’ve always thought the bus drivers did a really good job,” she said. “They are usually pretty friendly and let us listen to the radio. This plan shouldn’t do anything but help everybody.”
To view a complete copy of the IPS Transportation Plan log on to www.headlines.ips.k12.in.us.
