Presented by First Student
Lufkin Independent School District (ISD) strategically partnered with First Consulting to strengthen transportation services for their students and improve the efficiency of their program. Together, they were able to eliminate the need for a transportation waitlist and build a routing program that allows them to be more efficient in the community for years to come.
Lufkin Independent School District has always handled their own transportation, and while they’re still self-operated to this day, they chose to strategically partner with First Consulting to strengthen their operation and effectively address their challenges.
Like many districts, Lufkin ISD struggled with driver shortage which limited the number of students they could transport. In order to address their challenges, the district partnered with First Consulting to streamline their routing and complete a full audit of their operation, evaluating efficiencies in areas like safety, routing system builds, route planning, management, fleet mix and maintenance. As a result, they uncovered some things that were very instrumental in helping determine solutions to their issues.
Amid the audit process, Lufkin ISD fell victim to a cyber-attack that wiped out all of their student data. The First Consulting team worked in conjunction with the district to rebuild their system and ensure routes were efficient, vehicles were being used effectively, and ultimately eliminated the need for a student transportation waitlist.
“Between them helping us get our systems online and the usefulness of the utility of Transfinder, in conjunction with the expertise of our staff who were already there, we don’t have a waitlist this year,” said Dr. Daniel Spikes, assistant superintendent of administrative services. “That, in and of itself, is proof that our students are getting what they need in terms of transportation.”
Overall, the partnership between First Consulting and Lufkin ISD allowed the district to find routing efficiencies that provided safer and broader access to transportation for students and families, improved the effectiveness of their operation and increased overall safety. The registration process is now streamlined making it easier for families and the transportation department. And, employees who were working overtime to fill in gaps are now able to complete their work during the regular workday. Today, the district is operating with a more financially sound fleet mix, route plans built for reliable on-time performance, and no longer requires a waitlist for families in need of transportation.
Lufkin and First Consulting were true partners with the same goal. By working together, they arrived at a solution that was within budget and provided the best experience for both parties. As a result, Lufkin Independent School District is now able to provide transportation for their families and provide a good working environment for their staff.
Visit www.firststudentinc.com or email consulting@firststudentinc.com for more information.