As students get ready for the upcoming school year, Business Operations employees are doing the same, dedicating time for professional development that will better prepare them for the year ahead.

Held across the district throughout August, the in-service sessions provide employees with critical training related to their respective roles as well as the latest state and federal guidelines. They also serve as a welcome back for employees who were off duty during the summer.

“Our employees play a critical role behind the scenes. They make sure students get to and from school safely, have healthy food to eat, and a clean, safe, modern space where they can learn,” Business Operations Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby said.

“What they do, day-in and day-out serves as the foundation that student success is built upon. It’s imperative that they know how to do their job and do it well.”

As Business Operations prepares for the 2018-2019 school year, the departments focused their in-service trainings on issues that will be key for the coming year.

Nutrition Services
Nutrition Services is focusing on achieving the department’s main goal — serving 54 million meals to students during the coming school year — through increased lunch participation and continued expansion of the district’s dinner program.

Facilities Services
Facilities Services is unveiling two technology initiatives for the coming school year — making the purchasing process fully electronic and paperless and utilizing mobile handheld devices to increase the efficiency, consistency, and accuracy of the work order process.

Police Department
The HISD Police Department is focused on its new southwest substation and expanded community outreach program, as well as providing officers with de-escalation, active shooter, implicit bias training.

Transportation Services
Transportation Services is focused on the implementation of Zonar, an upgraded GPS tracking system that will incorporate on-board video cameras and will allow for real-time bus activity tracking. Other key focuses this year include implementation of magnet hubs, as well as Infofinder I, which allows families to find their designated bus stop and route number by entering their address online.

Business Operations Support
The Business Operations Support Customer Care team is focused on supporting Transportation Services by assisting parents with questions and issues regarding their child’s bus routes and the implementation of magnet hubs and Infofinder I.