Web-based Software Helps Driver Retention, Says School Administrators

BUFFALO, N.Y.-Unruly students are often cited among the reasons school bus drivers leave the profession. To date, video cameras have been among the key strategies to bring student behavior into line. Now, a software program that relies on Internet technologies has been introduced signaling that bad behavior on the school bus may finally be a thing of the past.

A web-based disciplinary reporting program called TIRES, which stands for Transportation Incident Reporting System, has been credited with reducing driver turnover, according to administrators of Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota.

The student behavior management software system designed by [IncWebs], Inc. was introduced at NAPT in Buffalo, N.Y., during a workshop. TIRES eliminates the use of multi-page incident report forms, doesn't take up hard drive space and may be run on any computer with a web browser and access to the Internet, says the software developer.

How It Works
The bus driver reports the incident and it is immediately entered online, explained Jules Bohanon, [IncWebs]' applications development director. The appropriate school disciplinary officials are notified by email within minutes. The [principal] logs on and gets a list of all incidents that happened that day. Adding a student ID number eliminates the possibility of confusing one student with another. The program allows access to students' entire incident record for the school year. With this information, the school is able to make timely recommendations and penalties.

Parents of the child and the bus company (and driver) receive reports with the school's recommendations and penalties imposed.

Real Time Experience
"Two years ago, the district elected to adopt [IncWebs]' web-based program," said Chuck Holden, director of operations, Anoka-Hennepin School District. "The district was printing 20,000 five-page reports a year. The printing cost alone pays for the software," he said.

"Driver retention was our biggest concern. We were unable to respond to a huge problem. With TIRES, drivers no longer wait up to a week to learn the results of an incident report," said Holden. "We have 130 users on the system-50 different schools, public and non-public. Our 20,000 reports have been cut in half. Drivers appreciate the quick response and retention has improved."

How well does the program work?
Coon Rapids Middle School was an unpopular school to drive for when Mary Fonken-Holden became assistant principal. "We had the worst discipline record in the district. The system makes it easy to locate which bus is having problems, so I can in turn help the drivers. Now, ours is the school drivers want to drive for because they know they are responded to," said Fonken-Holden.

This article appeared in the December 2000 issue of School Transportation News and is reproduced here with STN's permission.