Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

School Districts Can Take Steps to Substantially Reduce Their Transportation Costs

Report 04-10, February 2004

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Report Summary

School districts with high student transportation costs often subsidize their operations with funds that could otherwise be used in the classroom. Some of the more successful school districts have implemented cost-saving strategies that include

  • improving bus routing, including using computerizing routing software, to maximize efficiency and reduce the number of buses and drivers needed;
  • limiting the transportation of students who can safely walk to school and eliminating unsafe walking conditions;
  • limiting specialized transportation to just those students needing this service and maximizing federal Medicaid reimbursements;
  • using innovative methods to increase proceeds on surplus vehicle sales;
  • improving tracking and timeliness of vehicle maintenance; and
  • cooperatively bidding out fuel purchases.

These strategies could be adopted by other school districts to improve their transportation operations.

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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
education, school districts, best financial management practice, school buses, maintenance, courtesy bus riders, student transportation, routing, computerized bus routing, medicaid, vehicle acquisition, fuel, performance reviews, schools, school districts