Presentation to the Board of EducationDr. Bolgen Vargas, Superintendent of Schools

June 18, 2015

Transportation for Secondary Students

2Update on 2015-16 Transportation

The Good News The District and RTS have agreed on a solution to serve students in grades

7-12 throughout 2015-16 Most families will receive the same service as before

- Some will switch to yellow bus point-to-point service- Some will have new RTS express routes

The agreement meets requirements for continuing service- The number who will transfer downtown to travel to and from school

has been drastically reduced- Activity passes will support transportation for jobs and extra-curriculars- Number of RTS buses required daily will drop from more than 120 to less

than 80

The Challenge The solution adds significant transportation costs to the 2015-16 budget There are no desirable alternative options for 2015-16 RTS CEO Bill Carpenter has said that an agreement must be in place by

June 19th to assure service

A Chronology of How We Got Here

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1977-2014 RTS is primary transportation provider for secondary students- Express routes added in recent years to reduce downtown transfers

Oct 2014 District issues RFP for service providers to transport secondary students

Nov 2014 RTS submits a proposal for 2015-16 serviceDowntown transit center opens

Jan 2015 District staff informs RTS of intent to contract, asks for clarification on proposal

March 2015 RTS, District jointly announce new express routes- Fewer downtown transfers and security collaboration designed to reduce

incidents of fighting

April 2015 Staff negotiations continue, with agreement on nearly all details of a full-yearcontract and service plan

April 28, 2015 RTS announces plans to discontinue RCSD service, effective July 1- District urges RTS to reconsider, citing no viable alternative except to purchase

regular city bus passes for students

May 2015 Negotiations restart at staff level

May 14, 2015 District and RTS announce agreement on summer transportation

June 11, 2015 District, RTS present outline of full-year agreement to Board Finance Committee

June 18, 2015 Board considers resolution to authorize contract with RTS

Outline of the 2015-16 Agreement

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Current RTS express routes continue, with new express routes added at additional cost

Majority of District secondary schools will change bell times

- Tiers of early and late schools reduce RTS buses used daily from more than 120 to less than 80

Students at some District schools and programs will switch to yellow-bus service

- Wilson High School, All City High, LyncX Academy, Young Mothers and Interim Health Academy

All secondary students in charter schools will switch to yellow-bus service

- Number of students served by RTS buses will decrease by 2,054 compared to 2014-15

Impact on 2015-16 Budget

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Transportation Service Increased 2015-16 Cost (Millions)

RTS summer school (grades 7-12) $0.5

RTS school-year service $0.6

Yellow bus for RCSD students no longer served by RTS*

$1.6

Yellow bus service for charter students no longer served by RTS

$2.5

Loss of anticipated efficiency savings** $2.7

Total additional costs from RTS agreement $7.6

*All City High, Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School, LyncX Academy, Young Mothers and Interim Health Academy. Yellow bus service is $8.19 per student per day, RTS Express Service is $5.93

**Tiered bell times to reduce RTS bus usage from 120 to 70, lower enrollment projections and other efficiencies

Additional Costs From RTS / RCSD Agreement

Impact on 2015-16 Budget

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Transportation Service Increased 2015-16 Cost (Millions)

East High yellow bus for grades 6-8 $0.7

Urban Suburban students (four new districts) $0.6

Elementary students (single routes due to more early schools

$0.6

Rate change for special education students in District and private/parochial schools (Monroe Transportation

$0.6

All other changes $0.2

Total additional costs not connected to RTS $2.7

Total additional cost from RTS agreement $7.9

Total Additional Transportation Costs $10.6

Other Additional Transportation Costs

Contract Transportation Costs Over Time

Contract Transportation - All Funds

$7.4 M - Additional costs for school year$0.5 M - Additional costs for secondary summer school$7.9 M - TOTAL$2.7 - Loss of expected efficiency savings

(Does not include District Transportation

Service)

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$65.0

Strategies to Fund the Increased Cost

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A. Appeal to State government for one-time assistance- RTS will support this effort- We are asking Mayor Warren to assist- Given the unique situation we are hopeful of

significant aid

B. Obtain funds from external sources

We will do everything we can to avoid making cuts to District programs and services

Options to Reduce Costs in 2015-16

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A. Purchase RTS bus passes for District and charter school students no longer served under RTS contract- Potential savings of $2.8 million

B. Purchase RTS bus passes for all secondary students (excluding Urban Suburban)- Potential savings of $9.9 million

Superintendents Recommendation

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Approve the RTS contract and 2015-16 transportation plan

Focus on obtaining state aid for cost increases

Work on long-term solutions that lower costs, beginning in 2016-17

Encourage increased enrollment in neighborhood schools to lower transportation costs at all grade levels

Presentation to the Board of EducationDr. Bolgen Vargas, Superintendent of Schools

June 18, 2015

Transportation for Secondary Students