An Efficiency and Effectiveness Review of the Rainy River District school bus transportation services was conducted by a review team selected by the Ministry of Education.
The review is the result of recent governmental initiatives to establish an equitable approach to reforming student transportation across the province.
The review was conducted in January and results were compiled in an April report by Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The Efficiency and Effectiveness Review evaluated the transportation department’s performance in four specific areas of operation, including:
•consortium management of the Rainy River District School Board and the Northwest Catholic District School Board;
•policies and practices;
•routing and technology use; and
•contracting practices
Best practices were shared, challenges and accomplishments were noted, and recommendations were made.
The review team identified two primary service-related challenges for Rainy River District transportation services.
The first is a large, sparsely-populated area that must be serviced while the second relates to the limited size of the transportation department staffing.
“The review team was impressed at what we do with one person [the transportation officer], and the service we provide in a large geographic area with a limited number of students,” noted Laura Mills, the board’s superintendent of business.
Despite the limited staffing, the transportation department has been able to realize a number of notable successes since the integration of services with the Northwest Catholic District School Board.
The efficiencies gained over the years primarily are a result of diligent efforts on the part of the transportation officer Donna Lee.
The primary accomplishment has been the reduction of 900 km and 20 hours’ time from the daily travel schedule. These efforts have resulted in cost savings to both boards.
Route adjustments now are being implemented for the 2007/08 school year, which will realize further reductions of 432 km and 9.5 hours travelled daily.
These reductions are partially due to decline in enrolment.
Other accomplishments included the harmonization of policies, transportation software technology, and implementation of route auditing procedures.
Based on the Efficiency and Effectiveness Review results, the Ministry of Education has approved a funding adjustment of 60 percent of the transportation deficit.
The Rainy River District School Board will receive a 2006-07 in-year funding increase of $207,152. And the funding calculation will be the basis for 2007-08 Rainy River District transportation service.
“I am very pleased that the review recognized the board’s funding shortfall,” said Mills.
“The board has been operating at a deficit for the past nine years, and has been drawing funding from other areas to supplement transportation,” she noted.
Fort Frances Times
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