Here are some strategies for creating and implementing a successful plan for transportation:

• Identify appropriate bus/van size needed for each route, in terms of cost and logistical efficiency.
• Ensure route time is practical. Long routes can cause behavior issues and staffing issues. To plan routes, an effective tool is Google Maps. Through Google, site leadership can place “pins” at students’ summer addresses and then plan stops/efficient routes. Alternatively, many transportation vendors have software designed to produce efficient routes.
• Identify a current staff position to assume the responsibility of bus monitor. An ideal bus monitor would be: polite, patient, and bi-lingual; someone who could staff the same bus route on a consistent basis; a relationship builder who can establish rapport with bus drivers and families. This person may have the most frequent contact with families on a daily basis.
• Realize routes may need to be adjusted during the start of the program based on feedback from families, bus monitors, and site leadership. Also, your student roster may shift based on attrition and accessing a wait list, thus causing adjustments in routes.