Every school day, thousands of Nettleton Public Schools students depend on the Transportation Department to get them safely to and from school. While families may see a school bus pull up to a stop each morning and afternoon, there is a great deal of planning, coordination, and work happening behind the scenes to make each route run smoothly.

The Nettleton Public Schools Transportation Department manages nearly 4,000 student trips each day, including morning and afternoon transportation. The department is responsible for assigning students to routes, adjusting routes, working with schools on pickup and drop-off information, and communicating with families and staff about transportation needs.

But transportation involves much more than daily bus routes.

The department also coordinates transportation for students traveling to vocational programs, ASU-Newport, field trips, athletic events, and other activities outside of the regular school day. Transportation is also provided for students at the Nettleton Learning Center, including working with McKinney-Vento and programs to help ensure students have access to school.

The department also supports students who have modified schedules, such as students attending school for a half day, and works with other departments, including Food Services, when transportation is needed to help deliver meals to NLC locations.

In addition, the Transportation Department oversees the district's fleet of school vehicles, including vans and cars, and manages the scheduling and maintenance needs associated with those vehicles.

Safety Comes First

One of the most important responsibilities of the Transportation Department is making sure students are transported safely.

Route planning involves much more than simply determining which streets a bus should travel. Transportation staff consider where students will load and unload, whether students can safely enter and exit the bus without crossing a roadway, whether roads are wide enough for a bus, and whether buses can safely turn around.

Even seemingly simple considerations, such as mailboxes, parked vehicles, cul-de-sacs, and road conditions, can affect how a route is designed.

"We try to make sure our kids are loading and unloading on the right-hand side so they're not having to cross the street," David Shipman, Transportation Director, explained.

Drivers also complete required pre-trip inspections before beginning their routes. Many drivers arrive between 5:15 and 5:30 a.m., particularly during the colder months, to start their buses and allow them to warm up. They inspect lights, tires, mechanical components, and other required safety items before beginning their routes.

Some buses leave before 6 a.m., while many routes begin between 6 and 6:15 a.m.

By the time many staff members and families are beginning their school day, Transportation employees have already been at work for hours.

A Day That Starts Early and Ends Late

The work does not end when students arrive at school.

Transportation employees continue managing routes, responding to changes, communicating with schools, and preparing for afternoon transportation. While many district employees may leave their buildings around 3:30 p.m., Transportation staff may continue working until 4:30 or 5 p.m. as students are transported home.

Bus drivers and monitors are often the first school employees students see in the morning and the last school employees they see in the afternoon.

That responsibility makes the relationship between transportation staff and students an important part of the school experience.

Technology Is Changing Transportation

Nettleton Public Schools has also been making significant improvements in transportation technology.

Last year, the district implemented BusRight, a transportation tracking and route management system. The system allows the Transportation Department to create digital routes, assign students to routes, and monitor buses in real time.

The technology provides transportation staff with information that was previously much more difficult to obtain.

"We can tell where every bus is located at one time," the Shipman explained. Staff can also see when a bus stops and how long it remains at a particular location.

That information can be especially helpful when families have questions or concerns.

For example, if a parent believes a bus passed their home without stopping, Transportation staff can now use the tracking system to review what happened. Instead of relying on assumptions or having to search through video footage, staff can see whether the bus stopped and how long it remained at the location.

The system can also help families when they are running late. Transportation staff can check the bus's location and provide an estimate of how much time remains before the bus reaches a particular stop.

The district is also working with a safety pass card system that will allow staff to track when students board and leave buses and where they are along their route. As the system continues to be refined, the goal is to provide parents with additional transportation information and notifications.

Growth Creates New Challenges

As Nettleton Public Schools continues to grow and expand its facilities and programs, that growth also affects transportation.

Adding or relocating programs can mean adding routes, adjusting existing routes, and changing the timing of multiple buses.

Even a small change can create a ripple effect throughout the transportation system.

For example, moving students to a different location may add several minutes to a route. Those additional minutes can then affect when a bus arrives at an elementary or intermediate school. Transportation staff have to continually adjust routes and schedules to balance the needs of multiple campuses.

The department also has to consider the number of stops on a route. If a bus has 60 stops and waits an additional 30 seconds at each stop, that can add approximately 30 minutes to the route.

It is a constant process of adjusting, communicating, and problem-solving.

The Need for Bus Drivers

One of the biggest challenges facing school transportation departments nationwide is recruiting and retaining bus drivers.

Nettleton Public Schools is experiencing the same challenge.

Driving a school bus typically involves a morning route and an afternoon route, which can make the position difficult for individuals who work a traditional full-time schedule. The district has historically had teachers and coaches who drive buses, but the demands placed on educators' time can make it increasingly difficult for them to take on the additional responsibility.

Still, the department encourages individuals who enjoy working with students and who are patient and responsible to consider becoming drivers.

Teachers and coaches can be especially well-suited for the role because many already have experience managing groups of students.

Shipman also noted that driving a bus can provide a meaningful supplemental income opportunity for school employees while contributing to their retirement benefits.

Building a Modern Fleet

One of the Transportation Department's goals is to continue modernizing the district's bus fleet.

In previous years, Nettleton fell behind in its regular bus replacement cycle. The district is now working to catch up.

The Transportation Department recently sold eight buses that were no longer being used through a government auction. The district has also continued purchasing newer buses, including three new buses this year, two new buses and a used bus the previous year, and two new buses the year before that.

The goal is to continue moving toward a more modern and reliable fleet.

"I appreciate the board," Shipman shared, noting the district's continued investment in new buses and transportation resources.

Technology will also remain an important part of the department's future as Nettleton continues working toward more digital and efficient transportation operations.

Parents and Drivers Have an Important Role in Bus Safety

Transportation safety is a shared responsibility.

Parents and students can help by making sure students are visible and safely positioned when waiting for the bus. During the darker mornings and afternoons, especially around the time of the seasonal time change, students should be visible and should wait approximately 10 feet back from the roadway rather than standing in the street or directly along the curb.

Once students are on the bus, they should remain seated and face forward.

Shipman also reminds families that eating on a school bus can create a choking hazard, particularly when the bus is moving over bumps or making turns.

Drivers have a lot to manage while transporting students. A bus may contain dozens of children in addition to a driver and monitor, so following bus rules helps everyone stay safe.

Motorists also play an important role. Drivers should pay close attention around school buses and follow all bus stops and traffic laws. When a school bus is stopped and displaying its stop signals, motorists should stop and remain stopped as required.

"When in doubt, just stop and stay away from the bus," Shipman advises.

More Than a Job

Perhaps the most important part of the Transportation Department is the people who work there.

The department's drivers arrive early, work long days, and continue helping students long after many other employees have left for the day.

Their work often happens without much recognition.

Transportation staff described the department as a close-knit group of people who care deeply about students and about one another. They are willing to step up when the district needs additional help, even when it means extending an already long workday.

Shipman described the Transportation team as one of the most loyal groups of employees they have worked with during their career in education.

"They're doing it because they enjoy being around people and kids," Shipman shared. "It's almost like a family over there. They take care of each other."

That sense of teamwork is what helps keep the department moving.

Every morning, before most of Nettleton wakes up, Transportation employees are already preparing buses, checking equipment, reviewing routes, and getting ready for another school day. Every afternoon, they remain behind to make sure students get home safely.

For Nettleton Public Schools families, the yellow school bus may simply be part of the daily routine. But behind every bus route is a team of people working to plan, coordinate, communicate, maintain, and, above all, keep students safe.

The Transportation Department is truly a behind-the-scenes team that helps keep Nettleton Public Schools moving forward.