Madison County School District, KY

Madison County School District, KY discovers efficiencies with Transfinder and saves $326,896 annually.

By using Transfinder's Routefinder Pro, the transportation department organized all of the morning and afternoon routes, and was able to reduce buses, miles traveled, and personnel. 

Situation

In 2006 the new Glenn Marshall Elementary School opened, resulting in the need for additional transportation.  Three new routes were created to transport students to the new school, and this raised concerns that transportation costs would increase. 

Solution

Madison County Schools acquired Transfinder’s routing software system, Routefinder Pro, to contain costs.  Using the system, the transportation department organized all of the morning and afternoon routes, and was able to reduce buses, miles traveled, and personnel. Also, by utilizing aerial photographs for a “bird’s-eye-view,” the department had more precise information that saved time and travel miles. 

For the opening of the Glenn Marshall Elementary School in 2006, Madison County Schools also needed to redistrict and in doing so implemented earlier start times for two elementary schools.  During the 2006 school year, the district allowed the community to become used to the new schedule and then in the following school year, 2007, the department made several other changes. 

In 2007 a new schedule was fully implemented. This included creating routes for the high school and middle school students in the Kirksville and Waco areas.  Early bell times were established at three schools and a two-tier system was instituted at eight schools.  The department also created pool stops for high school and middle school students in appropriate areas and the school year was increased from 175 to 177 days.  These changes resulted in reducing miles traveled by 685 miles per day. 

Anticipating phone calls from parents about where their child’s bus stop would be located due to the changes, the district purchased Infofinder i solution from Transfinder to enable parents to see bus routes and stops on the district’s website from their home computers. 

In 2008, Transportation Director, Skip Benton, continued to improve efficiencies by creating additional pool stops and set up transfer points for high school and middle school buses in the Waco district.  District staff re-evaluated and reduced Kindergarten routes, and following an analysis of special needs and preschool transportation needs, was able to reduce the number of bus aides.  Each bus carrying at least one preschool child requires a bus aide.  By consolidating as many preschool students as possible onto fewer buses, the staff was able to reduce the number of aides without compromising safety. 

In 2009, as Madison Co. Schools continued to look for efficiencies and savings, Benton increased the use of group stops, and the district realigned the elementary schools with the middle schools.  When the new B. Michael Caudill Middle School opened that year, the department once again was able to reduce the number of miles traveled. 

Benefits

In 2009, to date Madison County buses are traveling 169,566 fewer miles each year, compared to the 2006-2007 school year. During the past three years, even though student loads have increased by 457 students, the number of routes has decreased. 

By creating early start times, adjusting and doubling routes, 14 fewer school buses were needed in 2009 as compared to 2006. This resulted in:

  • $183,907 savings per year in personnel.
  • Annual mileage reduced by 169,566 miles, yielding an additional $52,989.
  • Total annual savings of $326,896.