Florence Unified School District #1
March 2010 Board Report
Mark Lamas, Director of Transportation and Support Services
Transportation Highlights
Perfect Attendance
It is our pleasure to recognize perfect attendance in Transportation. We have four team members who, throughout the entire year, have not missed one day of school. Each and every day these ladies are here, on time, servicing our students and parents with safety and a smile. Our sincere thanks go out to Bus Driver Cindy Hitzler, and District Drivers Cynthia Williams, Penny Daniels, and Donna Oliver. Ladies, thank you for setting the highest of standards for our kids.
Connect Ed and Transportation
Thank you Technology! With the assistance of Nicole Steele and Ken Fitzpatrick, we have worked together to specialize call groups related to transportation issues only. We now have the capability to contact families in our district by specific bus route. We had a need to utilize this feature and test the process early last week, and it was a huge success. We have also begun fine-tuning call groups for other transportation groups. We are so excited about this component. It will allow us to be much more efficient and timely with our transportation communication to our kids and their families.
Poston Butte Parking
Upon the review of our drainage challenges from our most recent rain, we are still on the plans to park buses at PBHS. It is our intention to begin running the PBHS specific routes out of that location upon our return from Spring Intersession, on Monday March 29, 2010. We are excited about the transition, and drivers from that area are looking forward to the shorter commute. Our maintenance team is reviewing the details to make sure everything is ready.
Bus Management
We are excited to report that in addition to visiting schools and talking to kids about bus behavior, our discipline team has had more opportunity than ever to ride on routes with challenged drivers and assist in the implementation of different strategies for success. It has been a great addition to the bus management program. Drivers feel supported, parents have offered great feedback, and our kids are receptive to the standards that are being set. I would like to thank everyone involved for staying positive and making a difference!
Activity Bus Training
We continue to add staff members from both of our high schools to our completed training list for our activity buses. The training is thorough and very well received. This is an effort to utilize our resources as efficiently as we can. Thanks to all who are welcoming the training, and thanks to site administration for allowing training participation.
Meet and Confer
We continue to present ideas and possibilities to our staff from our Meet and Confer Representative Milton Kelly. As we get closer to year-end, several things have been discussed. Milton has done a great job in communicating this information to our staff, and has welcomed their feedback to take back to the table. Although no decisions have been made, our staff feels informed and included in decisions and opinions because of this committee.
Transportation Challenges
K-8 Activity Routes
We have had a great number of participants in after school athletics and activities at our K8 schools this spring season. We are challenged as the bus ride has become longer than our kids, drivers, and parents are accustomed to. We are working to encourage more drivers to assist in the increase of riders, which will minimize our ride time. Thanks to administration, staff, parents, and students for your patience as we work to add additional vehicles.
Facilities Highlights
Work Orders Completed
Support Services received and completed 798 work orders last month. Great job!
White Boards / Promethean Boards
We will replace white boards to prepare for our installation of Promethean boards in all classrooms at Florence K-8 School.
HVAC Cost Savings Solutions
After much research and additional training by our HVAC team and Facility Specialists, we have purchased the proper equipment to maintain our own district cooling towers. The self maintenance of these towers will save our district a potential $36,000 per year. Additionally, water treatment services are now being handled internally by our trained specialist, Frank Panella. This savings tops out at $18,000 per year. Great work!
Landscape Kudos
Our district landscape crew has been short-staffed by two members but is still working hard and making great gains! Our District Office grounds were prepared and ready for our dedication ceremony, in addition to all of our sites being maintained up-to-standard during this staff shortage.
Student Parking FHS
Effective March 1, 2010, we opened a brand new student parking area at FHS. Our lot is newly paved, freshly painted, and officially holding student vehicles today. What an exciting addition to our FHS improvements.
Maintenance, Grounds, and Custodial care is ongoing.