Atlanta Public Schools (APS) should entertain the idea of a hybrid public school transportation system, composed of contracting and in-house operations. A hybrid system can work for the APS because:
- The cost benefits of privatization reduces transportation cost, which can lead to more money in the classroom.
- Keeping experienced, happy bus drivers with the district can reassure the public that safety is a top priority.
Atlanta Public Schools can structure a plan for hybrid transportation to fit the needs of the more than 50,000 students in the school district; about 22,000 of those students rely on the school bus to get to and from school according to the FY 2015 General Budget. School districts are more likely to contract out services when the views of the superintendent and school board support privatization.
BACKGROUND
As public school system budgets fluctuate since the recent recession, school officials are finding ways to cut cost, by contracting out services that indirectly tied to student instruction. Janitorial, food and transportation operations are non-instructional school functions that could save districts money without reducing education opportunities. With population growth and maintenance …show more content…
If the district has an aging bus fleet, it will not be able to provide the service of transporting students at an optimal level. If the contractor provides the buses, the district is no- longer faced with large capital outlays to replace them. School systems are public entities that rely on funding from taxpayer dollars and the federal government. Dollars spent transporting students, makes those dollars unavailable to pay for other essential educational inputs like teachers and books. A hybrid transportation system allows APS to maintain control over operations handled in-house, and contract out the services that will save the district money over