One example illustrating the magnitude of the inefficiencies Lipps uncovered: a contracted afternoon route transporting three displaced (McKinney Vento) students 49 miles in a minivan with a driver and monitor—at a cost of $900 per day. “We built that into a trip and got it down to about $100 a day,” Lipps said. Multiply that by dozens of similar cases, and the savings quickly added up.
The district also eliminated all contracted routes for the current school year. “We had planned for two contracted routes, but we hit zero,” Lipps said proudly. “We hit our goals 100 percent.”
Beyond Savings: Efficiency and Accountability
Lipps knows Transfinder’s technology doesn’t just save money—it transforms operations. With Routefinder PLUS, Lipps can analyze routes, identify opportunities, and ensure resources are used effectively. And Tripfinder improves communication and compliance for field trips and athletic events, reducing headaches for staff and administrators.
Lipps credits Transfinder’s intuitive design and strong support for helping make the transition smooth. He said Tripfinder was a “no-brainer” purchase, replacing what he described as a “time-consuming nightmare” approach that involved a chain of approvals that wasted people’s time. Tripfinder, he said, worked seamlessly with the department’s routing management system, Routefinder PLUS.
In his experience at another district, Tripfinder was embraced by coaches after “some kicking and screaming.” It didn’t take long before they were one board 100 percent. They absolutely ended up loving it.” The same goes for the teachers requesting transportation for field trips.
“Not only do people in transportation love it, but the teachers now using Tripfinder, they get used to it and end up loving it,” Lipps said.
Stopfinder has been a game-changer as well.
“Parents never understand routing systems, management systems, but when they get their hands on Stopfinder, they love it” because it provides real-time bus location information.
Craig paused for a moment. He had just spoken about teachers, coaches, and his own transportation department.
“What other stakeholders are left?” he asked. “Oh, well, let’s talk about the board. Their happy to see the expenses are under control.”
A Legacy of Improvement
As Lipps prepared to leave Guilderland for a new role at East Greenbush, he reflected on his impact. The words of an assistant superintendent for business administration still ringing in his ear: “He said, ‘You’re leaving Guilderland in much better shape than you got it.’”
Now he’s focused on making an impact at East Greenbush CSD.
In a press release announcing Lipps’ appointment as transportation supervisor, Superintendent Dr. Kurtis Kotes said; “The district was fortunate to have a highly qualified pool of applicants. From the onset of the interview process, it was quickly evident that Mr. Lipps’s professional attributes were the right fit for East Greenbush. His diverse experiences in transportation and his clear commitment to supporting the education of children will be of great benefit for our school district.”
The good news, he said, is that they have Transfinder already.
“That’s one of the things that made me attractive to them,” he said, “my knowledge of Transfinder and how to use the system.”
He knows the Transfinder team is behind him.
“They’re right there,” Lipps said. “They’re supporting everybody. They’re training everybody. They’re making things happen.”
To learn more about Transfinder’s technology and support, email solutions@transfinder.com, visit https://www.transfinder.com/solutions or call 800-373-3609.