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Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives

Special Education Transportation Task Force Report

OCTOBER 2010

Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives

1112 High Street, PO Box 186, Dedham, MA 02027 781.326.2473 x113 | 781.251.0874 Fax | info@moecnet.org

DearColleagues: Forthepastseveralyears,theMassachusettsLegislatureandtheDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducationhavefundedinitiativesdesignedtosupportcooperativetransportationofspecialeducationstudentstoout‐of‐districtplacements.Thefiscalyear2010grantee,theMassachusettsOrganizationofEducationalCollaboratives(MOEC),istheleadorganizationofastatewideTaskForcemadeupofrepresentativesfromnumerouseducationalorganizations.MOECissubmittingthisreporttosummarizetheactivitiesandoutcomesoftheMassachusettsSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationproject.Therehavebeensignificantaccomplishments:

• Asaresultofthisinitiative,nowinitsfifthyear,atotalof$7,345,000instudenttransportationcostsavingshavebeenreportedbyEducationalCollaborativesandstudenttransportationnetworks.Additionalsavingsareexpectedasmorestudentsaretransportedfromalreadyparticipatingdistrictsandasnetworksaddadditionaldistricts.

• Thestudenttransportationinfrastructurehasbecomeconsiderablymoresophisticated.• Thequalityofspecialeducationstudenttransportationcontinuestoimprove.• Transportationnetworkshavebegunexpandingservicestootherareaswithsimilarpotentialfor

savings.• TheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForcewillcontinuetoserveasanimportant

influenceandadvocacygroupineffortstoreducecostsfurtherandimprovestudenttransportationservices.

MOECandtheTaskForcewishtothanktheLegislatureandtheMassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducationfortheirsupportofthisworthwhileproject.Webelievethatthisandsimilarinitiativesthatencourageregionalcollaborationonstudenttransportationandothereducationactivitiesarebotheducationallysoundandfiscallyresponsible.RespectfullysubmittedonbehalfoftheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForce:

ColleenCavanaugh,MassachusettsAssociationforPupilTransportationJohnCrafton,MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolBusinessOfficialsThomasScott,MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolSuperintendentsMichaelGilbert,MassachusettsAssociationofSchoolCommitteesJoanneHaleySullivan,NorthRiverCollaborativeJohnHennessey,WorcesterPublicSchoolsCarlaJentz,MassachusettsAssociationofSpecialEducatorsBobKurtz,ConsultantRichLabrie,ConsultantMichaelLaliberte,NorthRiverCollaborativeChristineLynch,MassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducationJimMajor,MassachusettsAssociationofApprovedPrivateSchoolsGerryMazor,LABBBCollaborativeAnneMcKenzie,LowerPioneerValleyEducationalCollaborativeJaySullivan,MassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducationSteveTheall,MassachusettsOrganizationofEducationalCollaboratives

MassachusettsSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationProject ExecutiveSummary TheMassachusettsSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForcehasbeenengagedinaseveral‐yearinitiativedesignedtoaddresstherisingcostofspecialneedsstudenttransportation.TheTaskForceisledbytheMassachusettsOrganizationofEducationalCollaboratives(MOEC)andincludesrepresentativesoftheAdministratorsofSpecialEducation(ASE),theMassachusettsAssociationofSchoolBusinessOfficials(MASBO),theMassachusettsAssociationofSchoolCommittees(MASC),theMassachusettsAssociationofSchoolSuperintendents(MASS),theMassachusettsAssociationforPupilTransportation(MAPT),andtheMassachusettsAssociationof766ApprovedPrivateSchools(maaps).Betweenfiscalyears1995and2003,thecostsforspecialeducationtransportationgrewby89%comparedtoa50%costincreaseforregulareducationtransportation.Transportationcostsforthesestudentsbecameoneofthefastestgrowingbudgetitemsforschooldistricts.Thestatelegislaturecreatedataskforcetoaddresstheissue.Asaresultoftheirefforts,theMassachusettsSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationNetworkprojectwasfundedtoexplorestrategiesto:

• Reducethehighcostsofout‐of‐districttransportation• Improvethequalityoftransportationservices• Avoidrouteoverlap,congestion,andlongdelaysatsitepick‐upanddrop‐offs

ProjectOverviewandBackgroundRepresentativesfromparticipatingprofessionaleducationalorganizationsestablishedtheTaskForcetoaddressconcernsabouttherapidlyincreasingcostsofspecialeducationtransportation.Overatwo‐yearperiod,theydevelopedapilotmodelproposal.ThreeEducationalCollaborativesagreedtoserveasregionalgranteesandassistineffortstoextendtransportationservicestootherCollaboratives.Theywere:

• ACCEPTEducationCollaborativeinNatick• AssabetValleyCollaborativeinMarlborough• LowerPioneerValleyEducationalCollaborativeinWestSpringfield

EachoftheseCollaborativeshadanextensivehistoryofprovidinghighquality,cost‐effectivetransportationservicestotheirmemberdistricts.Inaddition,severalotherMassachusettsCollaborativescoordinatedstudenttransportationtoholddowncostsfortheirmemberdistricts.SeetheappendixforalistoftheseCollaborativesandtheirmemberdistricts.ThisinformationisalsoavailableontheMOECwebsite:www.moecnet.org.Theobjectiveofthegrantswastoextendcost‐savingservicestoregionsofthestatenotalreadyserved.Initially,grantfundswereusedtoorganizethestateintoseveralInter‐CollaborativeTransportationNetworks.ThedevelopmentofthesenetworksandtheservicestheyprovidedisdetailedinastudyconductedbytheDonahueInstituteofthe

UniversityofMassachusetts.Thereportsuppliesextensivedocumentationofparticipationlevelsandananalysisoftheissues,andcanbeaccessedontheMOECwebsite:www.moecnet.org.TheMassachusettsmulti‐yearstudenttransportationinitiativehasproducedsomenotableoutcomes:Thetotalreportedsavingsoverthefive­yeargrantperiodis$7,345,000.Thesesavingsweretheresultofincreasedcommunicationandcooperationamongdistrictsandwithtransportationproviders,greatercompetitionamongproviders,improvedcosttransparency,andlowerper‐pupilcostsresultingfromsharedridership.Theaccruedsavingswouldbesubstantiallygreaterifcostavoidancewereincludedinthetotal.Costavoidanceisthereductionintransportationcostsfromthecostbaselineestablishedfortheyearpriortothestartofnetworkedtransportation.Thequalityofspecialeducationtransportationhasbeenimproved.

• ManynetworksandCollaborativeshavepurchasedandusedroutingsoftware.• Improvedvehiclecommunicationcapabilitieshavebeenestablished.• Mostvehiclesarenowequippedwithglobalpositioningsystems.• ChildFindmonitoringdevicesarebeinginstalledinmanyvehicles.• Monitoringofdriversandmonitorshasbeenincreased.• Improveddrivertrainingexpectationsandstandardshavebeenestablished.• Additionalmaterialshavebeenprepared;moredriversandmonitorsarebeing

trained.

Thestudenttransportationinfrastructurehasbeensubstantiallyenhanced,andtheimprovementsareprojectedtolastwellbeyondthelifeoftheproject.PreviouslyexistingCollaborativeandnetworktransportationproviderswillcontinuetoprovidecost‐effectiveservicetomemberdistrictswhilethenewlycreatednetworkswillexpandservicetoadditionalmemberdistricts.Networkshavebegunexpandingservicestootherareaswithpotentialforsavings.Inadditiontoprovidingout‐of‐districttransportationforspecialneedsstudents,networksarealsoresearchingopportunitiestoprovideregularschooltransportationandcooperativepurchasingoftransportation‐relateditemssuchasfuel,aswellasaddressingthepossibilityoftransportinghomelessstudents.TheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForcewillcontinuetoserveasanimportantinfluenceandadvocacygroup.TheTaskForceservesasaninformationdispenserandanadvocatetoensuretheefficientandcost‐effectivetransportationofspecialeducationstudents.Itscontinuationasanentitywillprovideanexcellentstructureforunitingvariousinterestsandconstituenciestoworkeffectivelytogetherforacommongoal.

Networkshavebecomerecognizedasviableagentsformulti­districtcooperationandasameansforreducingexpenses.InanApril2009surveyofschoolbusinessmanagers,82%ofmorethan100respondentsindicatedthattheyhadbeenmadeawareofthetransportationnetworkintheirarea.95%ofthebusinessmanagersreportedthattheysawpotentialbenefitsinjoiningsuchanetwork.ContinuingChallengesEffortstoestablishmulti‐studentridershipacrossschooldistrictshaveencounteredseveralchallengesthathavemadeitdifficulttoincreasenetworkparticipation.Thesechallengeshavealsohadanimpactontheabilitytoprovidemulti‐district,sharedtransportationatareasonablecost.Issuesthathindertheuseofsharedtransportationinclude:

• Challengesassigningstudentstovehicleso Behaviordisorderso Significantagedifferenceso Medicalconditions• Challengesincludingdistrictsinnetworkso Districtsatisfactionwiththeircurrentserviceandpriceso Parentalconcernsthatrestrictsomedistrictsfromusingamulti‐districtmodelo Multi‐yearvendorcontractsthatprecludeparticipationinanetworkatthistimeo State‐mandatedridetimeofnomorethananhouro Districtsthatemploytheirowndriverstooperatetheirownvehicles

Summaryof2009­2010TaskForceStatewideActivitiesandAccomplishmentsInfiscalyear2010,theMassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducationcontinuedtosupportthetransportationinitiativebyprovidingMOECwith$100,000tosustaintheprogressoftheSpecialNeedsStudentTransportationTaskForceinitiatives.ThesegrantfundsweretobeusedtoprovidestafftrainingandtechnicalassistancetonetworksandindividualCollaborativesthatmetthefollowingcriteria:

• Providedsignificantevidenceofacommitmenttoparticipate• Appearedtohaveareasonablechancetosucceed• Producedanactionplanthatincludedspecificsteps,atimetable,andoutcomes• Developedastrategydesignedtogeneratesufficientincometosupporttherequired

ongoingadministrativeservicesSeveralproposalsweresubmitted,andawardsweregranted.ThegrantsweremadetotheSouthCoastNetwork,theSouthernWorcesterCountyEducationalCollaborative/CityofWorcester,andtheBi‐County,BlackstoneValley,andFLLACCollaboratives.Thefollowingoutcomessummarizetheproject’saccomplishmentsduring2009‐10:

• Organizednewnetworks• Heightenedawarenessoftheneedtoreducecostsandimprovespecialneeds

studenttransportationservices• Collectedanddisseminatedrelevantdata• Providedaforumfordiscussionofrelatedtopics• Advocatedforparticipationbyadditionaldistricts• Addressedregulatoryandlegislativeissuesandotherconcernsthatimpactthe

qualityandcostofspecialeducationstudenttransportation• Maintainedcommunicationwiththelegislature,stateagencies,andprofessional

organizationsrelatingtopupiltransportation• Monitorednetworkactivitytoensurecompliancewithgranttermsandconditions• Establishedcostbaselinesthatweredisseminatedtodistrictstohelpthemcompare

transportationcosts,negotiatewithvendorsmoreeffectively,andattaincostsavings

• Supportedthefurtherdevelopmentofexistingandnewtransportationnetworks• Assistednetworkstoexpandthenumberofparticipatingdistricts• Providedtrainingandtechnicalassistancetothenetworksbydevelopingand

disseminatinginformationondrivertraining,safetypoliciesandprocedures,costsharing,billingmodels,andexamplesofbestpractices

• Respondedtonetworkrequestsforothertrainingandtechnicalassistance• Facilitatedinter‐networkinformationexchangeandcooperation• ServedinanadvisoryroletonetworksonstatemandatesandRegistryofMotor

Vehiclepupiltransportationrequirements• Workedwithprivateschoolstodevelopmechanismstomonitorservicesandassist

intrainingdriversandmonitors

• Maintainedcommunicationwithstateagenciesandprofessionalorganizationsrelatingtopupiltransportationbyparticipatinginmeetings,circulatingdocumentsandinformation,anddevelopingandfacilitatinginteragencycooperation.

SummaryofTransportationActivitiesandAccomplishmentsbyRegionorNetworkThefollowingarebriefdescriptionsofeachtransportationregionandareportofthesignificantactivitiesandaccomplishmentsofFY2010,togetherwithfutureplans. TheMetroBostonregionincludesmemberdistrictsoftheLABBB,EDCO,andCASECollaboratives.TheMetroBostonTransportationNetworkwasorganized,withLABBBservingastheNetwork’sleadCollaborative.TheArlington,Belmont,Burlington,Lexington,Watertown,andWalthamdistrictsareparticipating. The Metro Boston Network has completed its third year of providing out-of-districttransportation.Itisfullyself‐sustainingwithouttheneedforoutsidefundingasitcontinuestogrowandimproveitssystem.Sinceitsinception,estimatedsavingsof$720,000havebeenreportedbyparticipatingdistricts.InFY2011,theMetroBostonNetworkistransporting328students.TheMetroWestregionincludesdistrictsfromtheBi‐County,ACCEPT,SPOKE,andTECCollaboratives.Thisregioncontains32schooldistrictswith874studentsenrolledinpublicorprivateout‐ofdistrictprograms.InFY2010,matchinggrantfundswereprovidedtotheBi‐CountyCollaborativetocontractwithaconsultantforroutingandcostanalysisandtoextendtransportationservicestotheTECdistrictsthatwerealreadyusingthesametransportationvendor.TheAttleboro,Dedham,Franklin,Foxboro,KingPhilipRegional,Mansfield,Needham,Norfolk,Plainville,Walpole,andWrenthamdistrictsareparticipating.Thedistrictshaveenteredintoanewthree‐yearcontractthatwillsaveaminimumof$400,000overthelifeofthecontract.Theparticipatingdistrictshaveallocatedfundstoretaintheservicesofapart‐timetransportationcoordinator.TheSoutheastTransportationNetworkisinitsfourthyearofoperation,servingmemberdistrictsoftheNorthRiver,SouthShore,andPilgrimAreaCollaboratives.InFY2011,NorthRiverCollaborativewillprovideNetworktransportationfor14memberdistricts(Abington,Bridgewater,Cohasset,EastBridgewater,FreetownLakeville,Hanover,Hingham,Kingston,Norwell,Pembroke,Rockland,WestBridgewater,Weymouth,andWhitman‐Hanson),transporting233studentsto51privateschoolsandprograms.Sinceitsinception,thisNetworkhassaveditsparticipatingdistrictsapproximately$929,000.TheNortheastNetwork,managedbytheSEEMCollaborative,contractsfortransportationofmorethan700specialneedsstudentsfrommemberdistrictsofSEEM,GreaterLawrenceEducationalCollaborative,ShoreCollaborative,NorthshoreEducationConsortium,andtheMerrimackSpecialEducationCollaborative.TheAndover,Chelmsford,Chelsea,Danvers,Dracut,Everett,Lawrence,Lowell,Lynnfield,Malden,Marblehead,Masconomet,Methuen,Nahant,NorthAndover,NorthReading,Newburyport,Peabody,Pentucket,Reading,Salem,Stoneham,Swampscott,Revere,Topsfield,Triton,Wakefield,Wilmington,Winchester,andWoburndistrictsareparticipating.ThisNetworkcovers61schooldistrictswith3,177

studentsenrolledinpublicorprivateout‐ofdistrictprograms.Sinceitsinception,theNetworkhassaveditsdistrictsover$3,100,000,withsavingscontinuinginFY2011.TheCentralMassachusettsregionincludesmemberdistrictsoftheFLLAC,CAPS,AssabetValley,SouthernWorcesterCounty,andBlackstoneValleyCollaboratives,plustheCityofWorcester.Itencompasses58schooldistrictswith1,508studentsenrolledinpublicorprivateout‐ofdistrictprograms.InFY2010,theBlackstoneValleyCollaborativeusedgrantfundstodevelopmulti‐districttransportation,resultinginasavingsofapproximately$230,000.TheBellingham,Mendon‐Upton,Hopedale,Milford,Northbridge,andUxbridgedistrictsareparticipating. GrantfundswerealsoprovidedtoSouthernWorcesterCountyEducationalCollaborativetoextenditstransportationservicestoadditionaldistricts.Presently35studentsfromSouthbridgeandtheCityofWorcesterareparticipatingatasavingsof$426,000.GrantfundswerealsoprovidedtotheFLLACCollaborativeinnorthernWorcesterCountytoorganizemulti‐districttransportationforinterestedmemberdistricts.TheseincludeAshburnham‐Westminster,Clinton,Gardner,Leominster,andWestBoylston.InFY2011,sixstudentsarebeingtransportedtoFLLACprogramsatanestimatedsavingsof$45,000.TheSouthCoastregionincludesdistrictmembersoftheREADS,SoutheasternMassachusetts,andSouthCoastCollaboratives.Theregioncovers22schooldistrictsthatenroll688studentsinpublicorprivateout‐ofdistrictprograms.FY2010grantfundswereusedtodevelopaSouthCoastStudentTransportationNetwork.ThefundsalsoallowedtheSoutheasternMassachusettsCollaborativetoexpanditscurrenttransportationprogram.TheexpandedprogramnowservestheAcushnet,Fairhaven,Mattapoisett,Marion,andRochesterschooldistricts.TheprojectedsavingsfortheadditionalroutesestablishedforFY2010is$70,000.TransportationisprovidedonlytoCollaborativeprograms.Conclusion Sincetheinceptionofthepilotprogramandtheimplementationofstatewidenetworks,substantialsavingshavebeendocumentedinthecostofspecialeducationtransportationfortheCommonwealth’sschooldistricts.Inregionswherenetworkshavebeenabletoattractwidespreaddistrictparticipation,therehavebeenremarkablelevelsofcooperation.Eachyearoftheprojecttherehavebeenincreasesinthenumberofparticipatingdistricts,studentridership,andtransportationcostsavings.Despitetheseimpressiveresults,significantopportunitiesremaintoincludeadditionaldistrictsandexpandthenetworks.TheTaskForceintendstocontinuetosupportthenetworks,sustaintheirviability,promotecostefficiencies,andcreateopportunitiesforgreaterparticipationforeverydistrictintheCommonwealth.

AppendixSeveralotherCollaboratives,althoughnotparticipatinginnetworkedtransportationandthereforenotincludedintheabovereport,alsoprovidestudenttransportation.Theyhaveextensivetransportationexperienceandproducesignificantsavingsformemberdistricts.ThefollowingisalistoftheseCollaborativesandtheirmemberdistricts.ACCEPTCollaborative:Ashland,Dover,Dover/Sherborn,Framingham,Franklin,Holliston,Hopkinton,Medfield,Medway,Millis,Natick,Sherborn,SouthMiddlesexRegionalVocationalDistrict,SudburyAssabetValleyCollaborative:AssabetValleyRegional,Berlin,Bolton,Boylston,Berlin‐BoylstonRegional,Hudson,Lancaster,Marlborough,Maynard,NashobaRegional,Northborough,Southborough,Northborough‐SouthboroughRegional,Shrewsbury,Stow,WestboroughCapeCodCollaborative:Barnstable,Brewster,Bourne,CapeCodRegionalVocationalTechnicalSchool,Chatham,Dennis/YarmouthRegional,Eastham,Falmouth,Harwich,Martha’sVineyardRegional,Mashpee,NausetRegional,Nantucket,Orleans,Provincetown,Sandwich,Truro,UpperCapeCodRegionalTechnicalSchool,Wareham,Wellfleet

CASECollaborative:Acton,Acton/BoxboroughRegional,Bedford,Boxborough,Carlisle,Concord,Concord/CarlisleRegional,Harvard,Lincoln,Lincoln/SudburyRegional,Littleton,Maynard,Sudbury

LowerPioneerValleyCollaborative:Agawam,EastLongmeadow,Hampden‐WilbrahamRegional,Longmeadow,Ludlow,Southwick‐TollandRegional,WestSpringfield

MerrimackSpecialEducationCollaborative:Billerica,Chelmsford,Dracut,Groton‐Dunstable,NashobaValleyRegional,NorthMiddlesexRegional,Tewksbury,Tyngsborough,Westford,WhittierRegionalVocationalTechnicalSchool

SouthernWorcesterCountyEducationalCollaborative:Auburn,Dudley‐Charlton,Grafton,Leicester,Millbury,Northbridge,NorthBrookfield,Oxford,QuaboagRegional,Southbridge,Spencer/EastBrookfield,Sutton,TantasquaUnion61Regional,Webster

TheseCollaborativesprovidemulti‐districtsharedtransportationbutonlytotheirownprograms:

CAPS:Ashburnham‐WestminsterRegional,Athol/RoyalstonRegional,Fitchburg,Gardner,MaharRegional,NarragansettRegional,OrangeElementary,PetershamCenterSchool,QuabbinRegional,Winchendon

LABBB:Arlington,Bedford,Belmont,Burlington,Lexington

NorthshoreEducationConsortium:Beverly,Danvers,Gloucester,Hamilton‐Wenham,Lynn,Lynnfield,Manchester‐Essex,Marblehead,Masconomet,Nahant,NorthReading,Peabody,Reading,Rockport,Salem,Swampscott,Triton,Tri‐townUnion

SoutheasternMassachusettsEducationalCollaborative:Acushnet,Dartmouth,Fairhaven,Marion,Mattapoisett,NewBedford,OldRochesterRegional,RochesterTEC:Canton,Dedham,Dover,Dover/Sherborn,Framingham,Holliston,Hopkinton,Medfield,Millis,Natick,Needham,Norwood,Sherborn,Walpole,Wayland,Wellesley,WestwoodGreaterLawrenceEducationalCollaborative:Andover,Amesbury,Boxford,Georgetown,GreaterLawrenceTech.,Hamilton‐WenhamRegionalDistrict,Haverhill,Ipswich,Lawrence,Lowell,Methuen,Middleton,Newburyport,NorthAndover,PentucketRegional,Topsfield,TritonRegional

Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives

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