TransPar brought innovative ideas and a new approach to soliciting, contracting, overseeing and managing bus contracts and bus contractors. Quite frankly, they reinvented the transportation model here by becoming our partner.
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (PRWEB) April 11, 2018
The TransPar Group of Companies, a partnership of three leading organizations from across the transportation industry that offers a diverse portfolio of services and products, recently launched a series of school transportation success stories that tell an impressive tale of innovation, safety, efficiency and cost control.
The ongoing series of case studies can be found on the company’s Resources page: http://www.transpargroup.com/resources.
Success stories feature the following entities:
- Hawaii State Department of Education
- Normandy Schools Collaborative
- Elkhart Community Schools
- Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation
“We’ve had great success with both our contractor management approach and in leading district-owned and operated systems in numerous states throughout the country. Our teams manage, supervise and guide transportation departments with the goal of attaining the best balance of safety, service, and cost,” stated Tim Ammon, Chief Business Development Officer of TransPar Group of Companies. “In addition to those efforts, we are providing bus driver staffing solutions and the work of our trusted advisors has been very well-received by school officials seeking experts to partner with to help improve their transportation systems. Whether improvements pertain to safety and training, changing bell times, managing student behavior, optimally communicating with parents, adding new technologies, purchasing replacement vehicles or insourcing or outsourcing, our comprehensive solution sets are tailored to address their concerns.”
In one of the most successful turnaround efforts in its history, TransPar partnered with the Hawaii State Department of Education’s (DOE) Student Transportation Services Branch to support a comprehensive reform its statewide school bus operations. The challenge was to rein in Hawaii’s pupil transportation costs and improve their inefficient routing and outdated technology. The solutions provided by TransPar were exceptional starting with the reinvention of the DOE’s transportation model. They added a flexible routing system, measurable processes and new procurement methods. TransPar’s efforts resulted in $16 million of cost savings, innovative technologies and improved statewide credibility.
“TransPar brought innovative ideas and a new approach to soliciting, contracting, overseeing and managing bus contracts and bus contractors,” said James Kauhi, Manager of the DOE’s Student Transportation Services Branch. “Quite frankly, they reinvented the transportation model here in Hawaii by becoming our partner.”
A successful partnership between TransPar and Normandy Schools Collaborative enabled the St. Louis-area school district to overcome serious operational deficiencies in contracted school bus service and bring transportation in-house. The district faced the challenge of trying to provide great in-house student transportation after years of poor contractor service while recovering from uncontrollable costs and inconsistent service teamed with a lack of transportation expertise. TransPar came in and provided a new, in-house model, hired a Transportation Director, implemented a state-of-the-art routing system and instilled a forward-thinking mentality.
“TransPar did everything to help us get started. They told us what to do, how to do it and, in many cases, did it for us,” stated Randal Charles, Assistant Superintendent of Operations for Normandy Schools Collaborative. “They even pulled TransPar employees from other locations to help staff phones the first week of school. We hadn’t even discussed that; TransPar just did it because they knew it would make things go more smoothly. That kind of forward-thinking, and the relative ease with which it all happened, was impressive. Not only do these guys know their stuff; they’re good people to work with.”
An economic downturn, reduced school walk zones and a staff retirement gave Indiana’s Elkhart Community Schools the opportunity to change the status quo and take a fresh look at its transportation operations. The District tapped TransPar to lead the way to greater efficiencies and tangible savings. Elkhart needed to sustain transportation and service in the face of reduced state funding and increased ridership.
In addition to overseeing, managing and supervising all aspects of the day-to-day operations of Elkhart’s transportation system, TransPar analysts evaluated costs, policies, routing and technology. The results were significant savings in driver wages and operational costs.
“TransPar has been a fantastic partner. School systems tend to stick to the status quo, especially when it comes to operations,” stated Tony Gianesi, Chief Operating Officer for Elkhart Community Schools. “TransPar brings us the in-depth knowledge and experience that opens our eyes to what could be, so we can make the best decisions about what will be.”
For more than 20 years, TransPar has partnered with St. Louis, Missouri’s Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC), which oversees the implementation of the metropolitan area desegregation program that transports city students to suburban school districts and county students to magnet schools in the city.
The challenge was to make transportation affordable and manageable for Choice Schools in St. Louis while addressing unmanageable routes, driver shortages and lack of transportation expertise. TransPar provided customized solutions featuring a new, zone-based busing system and phased-in implementation. As a result, VICC gained manageable routes, shorter rides, efficient routing, a more affordable system and safe and on-time performance.
“The value of working with TransPar is tremendous. More than most school districts, transportation for the Choice Schools program is a big deal,” stated VICC CEO David Glaser. “It’s important it be done with excellence and is cost-effective. The way we’ve all been able to work together has been great. It’s more of a partnership than a vendor relationship.”
For more information about the TransPar Group of Companies and their portfolio of services and products, please visit http://www.TransParGroup.com and follow on Twitter at @TPGoC.
About TransPar Group of Companies
The TransPar Group of Companies is a partnership of three leading organizations from across the transportation industry that offers a diverse portfolio of services and products which represent the most comprehensive and responsible offering in the industry. And this is done while keeping students safe and improving the cost and quality of school transportation operations. The three business units include TransPar, which provides Management and Staffing Services to develop solutions for difficult operational questions and problems; School Bus Consultants which offers Advisory Services to deliver resources and expertise that transportation contractors and organizations often cannot access on their own; and Transportation Services Co. providing Fleet Management Services and Training Products to help customers create the strong foundation necessary to support effective service delivery. So no matter the needs, the TransPar Group of Companies is the all-inclusive solution to creating a successful, reliable, and profitable student transportation program. For more information, please visit http://www.TransParGroup.com.