Problem solving strategies and applications

School Transporation Time Management

Problem Solving by the District Transportation Department

Management Issues.

Several management issues are presenting at the Public School Transportation Department. These issues are of concern to management and human resources as they are impacting workplace harmony, efficiency, and productivity. The Human Resources Department has collaborated with management to ensure that practices related to the assignment of overtime and the assignment of routes to drivers comply with the district's rules and regulations. Specifically, these issues have become a concern as employees can bring claims of discrimination based on practices that may be characterized by favoritism.

The collaborative efforts of the Human Resources Department and the Director of School Transportation have resulted in the following standards related to the assignment of routes and overtime:

Routing assignments shall be based on seniority. Favored routes are determined on several bases: Some routes have been historically preferred bus routes due to a propensity of beneficial attributes. These attributes include less time to conclude a run, less dense traffic to navigate, less challenging student riders, and runs that conclude earlier in the day. Other preferred routes may include extra-curricular and activity bus runs, and the shorter day special education routes that include bus monitors and aides assigned to individual students.

2. Overtime is frequently related to the type of bus route that is assigned. Examples include routes that transport high school students, as these incorporate extra-curricular and activity bus runs. Also, inclement weather and the absence of bus drivers due to illness or leave will sometimes force drivers into overtime. Whenever possible, overtime will be assigned to bus drivers on a seniority basis.

3. Assignments subject to seniority restrictions will be systematically and transparently be tracked and communicated to transportation staff. In addition, a specific protocol for determining seniority and making assignments will be provided to dispatchers and management. Any deviations from the protocol must be communicated to Human Resources.

The Director of School Transportation has established the following standards related to the tracking hours worked by employees:

1. Arrivals and departures from the central bus barn of the District's Department of Transportation shall be recorded by punching a time clock. The rationale for this practice is the difficulty of oversight and the location of the bus barn in relation to other school district facilities. Because of the early hours associated with high school and middle school bus runs, office employees are generally not in place. The dispatcher is located in the central office on another campus, and so dispatch staff cannot provide oversight to bus drivers.

2. Drivers are also required to punch out at the end of a regular run and at the beginning of all runs. Drivers are able to access the interior of the bus barn at all times. Access to phones, restrooms, lockers, the lunchroom, and the punch clock can occur 24/7.