Tag Archives: bus

New transportation software helping phase out manual bus inspections

Roughly 90 percent of HISD bus drivers are now completing their required twice-daily bus inspections electronically with Zonar, a fleet management and tracking system implemented by Transportation Services earlier this school year.

The success rate was determined as a result of one-on-one inspections conducted this week by the transportation leadership team at all four bus terminals. The spot checks were completed on-site each morning prior to the start of morning bus routes. Additional random checks will continue.

“We now have the ability to electronically collect fleet data, which is automatically accessible to our fleet maintenance department,” Transportation Services Interim General Manager John Wilcots IV said. “It’s made our manual inspection process obsolete.” Continue reading →

HISD interim superintendent, chief operating officer meet with transportation employees

HISD Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby

Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan met with all HISD bus drivers and transportation staff on Friday to deliver a simple message of support: “I hear you.”

Lathan called the meeting so she could directly address employees and reinforce the important role they play in the success of students across the district.

“You truly are the first contact every child in this district has each day on his way to school,” Lathan said. “People think it’s just about the principals and teachers, but it’s about our bus drivers, our food service workers, our custodians. You are essential.”

The meeting marked the first time Lathan has met with the entire Transportation Services department. She was joined by HISD Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby and Transportation Services General Manager Timothy Brown. Continue reading →

Transportation Department Revving Up for a New School Year

The first day of the school is only days away, and HISD’s Transportation Department is doing everything possible to ensure a safe and successful school year.

All parents should receive a postcard in the mail and at least two telephone calls before school starts with their children’s bus-route information, but a customer call center has also been set up to answer questions. Parents can call 713-613-3040 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. starting Thurs., Aug. 22, for assistance with transportation-related issues. The call center will remain open for at least 30 days.

For HISD school bus safety tips, watch this HISD informational video.

More Transportation Updates:
• There are 889 bus routes this year, a 5 percent increase over last year
• Some 60 new drivers are coming onboard this year
• Safety trainers were schooled in bus inspections, precision-driving techniques, parking, and correct mirror usage so that they could train drivers
• Bus drivers and attendants partnered with the Houston Fire Department for bus evacuation and rescue training and received instruction on treating smoke inhalation and burns
• All 1,001 buses in the HISD fleet will have been inspected and bus cameras, GPS units, and newly activated silent alarms have been checked

Emergency Drill Puts Drivers to the Test

The derailed train and overturned school bus may have looked like a scene out of a disaster movie, but it actually was part of a very real hands-on training exercise for HISD’s Transportation Services Department.

“Hands-on exercises are a much more effective way to train our employees,” said HISD Transportation Manager Chester Glaude. “To make things more realistic, we’ve added real smoke, fire, and an actual overturned bus.”

Continue reading →

HISD Partners with Houston Hispanic Forum to Bus Students to 27th Annual Career and Education Day

HISD information booths and workshops on college-readiness and parental involvement will also be available

 

What:   HISD is participating in the 27th Annual Career and Education Day presented by the Houston Hispanic Forum to help provide students and families all the resources necessary to help them get into college, explore possible career paths and obtain financial aid assistance.  This free event includes hundreds of bilingual representatives from universities, colleges, and community organizations as well as dozens of educational workshops. Free lunch will be provided for all attendees.

All students in grades 6 – 12 and their parents are encouraged to attend.

Continue reading →

The City of Houston Mayor’s Office Recognizes HISD Transportation Department

Houston City Hall

Houston's City Hall is awash in yellow in honor of HISD's Transportation Department.

The Houston Independent School District Transportation Department will be recognized by the City of Houston Mayor’s office this month.  February is national “Love the Bus” month which raises awareness and appreciation for school bus transportation personnel who work to safely transport children to and from school.

Continue reading →

HISD Transportation Puts Counter-Terrorism Training to the Test

[slideshow]While parents prepare their children for back to school, HISD’s Transportation Department is preparing all of the district’s bus drivers and attendants with training and tools to safely drive the students to and from school every day.  This year, HISD’s Transportation Department is adding counter-terrorism training which will include a mock disaster drill on Thursday, August 9 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.at 6351 Pinemont Drive.    

“We can never prepare our drivers and attendants too much to be successful on the road,” HISD Transportation Senior Manager Chester Glaude said.  “It is important that our team is fully prepared for all situations to make sure that HISD children feel comfortable and safe on our school buses.”

The mock disaster drill involves an overturned school bus.  To add a touch of realism, an older model school bus has actually been overturned on its side and will be used as a hands-on learning lab for all district bus drivers and attendants.  This drill will allow staff to incorporate previous trainings such as student management, emergency evacuation, and counter-terrorism.  In addition, this mock disaster drill will also involve staged human injuries which will allow district bus drivers and attendants to utilize the first-aid training they recently received in May.

 In addition to the technical skills the transportation team will learn and practice during this event, they will also be reminded of the basics such as:

  • The importance of performing pre-trip and post-trip inspections of the bus
  • Looking for suspicious items such as canisters, metal boxes, or containers
  • Immediately reporting suspicious items

 In May 2012 the HISD Transportation Department was selected as one of two districts in the nation as a finalist for the prestigious Larson Quality Award.  The Leland E.G. Larson Quality Student Transportation Program was developed to spotlight school bus operations that provide high-quality customer service in safety-centered operations. 

Each day, about 875 HISD school buses travel 80,000 miles as they transport 30,000 students to and from school.

HISD Transportation Listed Among the 100 Best Fleets in the Country for Second Consecutive Year

For the second consecutive year, the Houston Independent School District made the list of the top 100 fleets in the nation for 2012, according to Government Fleet, a leading transportation industry magazine.  HISD moved up five spots to number 52 on the list and once again is the only school district in the country to earn a spot on the list.

“Ranking among the best in the nation is a clear reflection of the hard work of our transportation team, from our bus drivers to our mechanics and our entire staff,” HISD’s Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla said.  “HISD’s Transportation Department is truly dedicated to safely transporting our students to and from school every day.”

Continue reading →

HISD Response to Issues Raised by Houston Educational Support Personnel Union

Student and employee safety is the top priority of the Houston Independent School District. HISD’s efforts to protect students and staff include a comprehensive school bus safety and student discipline strategy. HISD officials are aware of the student discipline concerns raised by the Houston Educational Support Personnel union and the district takes these concerns seriously. District officials are reviewing the Student Code of Conduct to determine whether revisions are necessary. This review will include an evaluation of the union’s request to include a more specific mechanism for suspending bus riding privileges for students with ongoing disciplinary issues.

Steps HISD has taken to ensure bus safety include:
• All bus drivers this year received four hours of student management training.
• Every HISD bus is equipped with at least two security video cameras.
• HISD transportation administrators conduct monthly roundtable discussions with employees at each bus terminal to hear employees’ concerns and address them.

HISD bus drivers are asked to report all disciplinary issues to their supervisors. The supervisors then investigate the incident by reviewing videotape, usually within 24 hours of receiving the complaint. Based on the results of the video, either the school and/or HSID police are informed of the incident and given the opportunity to review the video. Appropriate action is then taken by the school or police.

The HISD transportation department is unaware of any unresolved issues regarding specific incidents brought forward by bus drivers. Transportation officials have asked union officials to provide a list of specific instances in which they feel appropriate action was not taken, but we have received no such list at this point. If such a list is provided, HISD will investigate thoroughly.