West Tennessee School System Outsourcing Bus Operations
This video is no longer available.
SAVANNAH, Tenn. – Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, the Hardin County School System is outsourcing its busing operations. The budget is one of the big reasons behind the change. “We were looking at about an excess of 20 buses in the next four years that were going to have to be retired at a cost of over $2 million,” said Michael Davis, deputy director with Hardin County Schools. Instead of taking the hit, Durham School Services will take over. Officials said they purchased around 20 buses from the HCSS and added more of their own, to a total of around 45 school buses. School officials said under the new operations, busing will become better and more efficient. “Safety is a key,” said Davis. “There’s nothing more important than getting our kids to school in the mornings safe and getting them home safe.” With new technology installed on each bus, parents can follow their child’s route, including up-to-the-minute location updates, through a simple phone call to Durham School Services. “The general manager will look at his computer and he’ll pull up the number for the bus, and he will be able to map exactly where the bus has been,” said Wolf Cole with Durham School Services. “It’s a great piece of technology that will allow parents peace of mind,” said Davis. School officials said outsourcing buses is uncommon in West Tennessee now, but it may become a trend going forward. “If school systems can let the transportation be run by the professionals and us focus on education, I don’t know of a school system that wouldn’t be interested,” said Davis. School officials said bus drivers had to reapply for their jobs, but most who applied were rehired by Durham School Services.
