Yesterday we looked at some of what our drivers do beyond driving. Today we’re going behind the scenes to the transportation team at Central Operations.

When families call transportation, it’s often to ask about a route, a pickup time or a change for their child. Less visible is the work that happens before and after that call, every day, to keep more than 2,700 students riding the bus safely.

Routes, Riders and Drivers

That work starts with routes. The office builds and adjusts them, schedules trips, and processes student additions, changes, and removals as families’ needs change. It also coordinates special transportation needs so that every student who relies on the bus can get to school safely.

Routes only work when there are people to run them. The office finds substitute drivers and monitors when someone is away, recruits and trains new drivers, and keeps employee records, training and compliance up to date. It also handles payroll, timecards, and billing.

Safety and Concerns

When a concern is raised, staff investigate it, reviewing bus video when needed, and work toward a solution. That takes time, and taking the time helps make sure the outcome is accurate and fair. When an emergency affects regular busing, the team looks for ways to reduce the impact on students and families.

Keeping the fleet on the road is the job of another part of the Transportation team at Central Operations. Our mechanics, service writer, and parts and services assistant work together to complete regular and emergency maintenance on the bus fleet, so buses stay on the road and students keep getting to and from school.

All of this depends on communication. Office staff talk with schools, parents and drivers every day, and they solve problems as they come up, from inclement weather to mechanical issues to last-minute driver changes.

“When a route runs smoothly, it’s usually because someone at PRSD Central Operations has already solved a problem you never saw. Our team is on the phones, adjusting routes and finding solutions before the first bus rolls out and after the last student is dropped off every day,” said Transportation Manager Merlin Lee.

Check back tomorrow to see how families, schools, our transportation team and the community can all help get our students to school and home again safely.