REPORT FROM THE STATE SENATE —In a joint informational briefing, the Senate and House Committees on Education will discuss findings in the Student Transportation Report written by MPS Management Partnership Services on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 1 p.m. in Conference Room 309 located at the State Capitol.
“We all want what is best for our students and families, which include safe and affordable transportation options that are financially and operationally sustainable,” said Senator Jill Tokuda, chair of the Senate Committee on Education. “We are looking forward to hearing the outcomes of the assessment and what plans the DOE have to transform their student transportation system.
The Department of Education (DOE) contracted MPS Management Partnership Services, Inc. to assess the DOE’s current business model, compare prices to similar school districts, evaluate the current organizational infrastructure of the department and its transportation branch, and make recommendations for improvement.
The following individuals have been invited to report to the committees:
- Ray L’Heureux, Assistant Superintendent, Office of School Facilities and Student Services, DOE
- Timothy Ammon and Thomas W. Platt, Consultants, MPS Management Partnership Services, Inc.
According to a report released in August by the Office of the Auditor, bus costs have risen dramatically in the past several years, with general funds spent on student transportation statewide nearly tripling to $72.4 million since 2006.
Despite years of rising costs, the Legislature has been critical of the significant decrease in competition and has called upon the DOE to propose and adopt both short and long-term solutions that address both issues.