Aging Bus Fleet Primary Reason for Outsourcing Transportation at Trenton Public Schools

The Trenton Public School district has 20 buses, and the average age of the buses is about 13 years old.

With bus repair costs piling up and even higher costs anticipated for the coming years, Trenton Board of Education members voted in favor of outsourcing district transportation Monday. Bus repairs and maintenance costs are expected to grow exponentially in the coming years according to Vince Porreca, principal at Hedke Elementary School. Porreca was one of three former superintendent interns who began researching and analyzing outsourcing district transportation in January and presented their findings to the school board. The district has a fleet of 20 buses that are, on average, about 13 years old, and repairs have proved costly. The original amount budgeted for bus repairs for the 2011-2012 school year was $32,123 and repair costs have …

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sine-of-the-times

11:31 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012

It really made me feel better knowing our bus driver, and she knew our kids, because she had a vested interest. It will be interesting to see how the "replacements" do. I hope the drivers find new quality jobs...once again, this is sad for Trenton, and American workers. Please remember these issues when you vote in November.   more ›

Trenton Residents, Bus Drivers Unhappy With School Board's Decision to Outsource Transportation

Trenton Board of Education members voted in favor of outsourcing district transportation Monday night.

The overall response to Trenton Board of Education members' decision to outsource transportation has been less than warm. Former superintendent interns Vince Porreca and Rod Wakeham recommended board of education members select Dean Transportation for all district busing Monday night. Board members voted unanimously in favor of outsourcing. Trenton residents and district bus drivers have had plenty to say about the decision since it came down Monday night at the regularly scheduled board of education meeting. "I'll probably go home and cry tonight," Ann Dobson, Trenton Public Schools bus driver. Ann Dobson has been driving a bus for TPS for 20 years and said she was hurt that the superintendent interns, who researched outsourcing …

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Concerned resident

9:11 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Yeah, but do they have their own Buses?   more ›

Trenton School Board Votes to Outsource Busing

District busing has been outsourced in Trenton, but what does that mean for the current staff of over 20 drivers?

After six months of consideration, Trenton Board of Education members voted unanimously to outsource district busing Monday night at the regularly scheduled board of education meeting. Budget conditions and an aging bus fleet were blamed for the decision. The recommendation came after months of research and analyzing from the three former superintendent interns Vince Porreca, principal at Hedke Elementary School; Stephanie O'Connor, principal at Arthurs Middle School and Rodney Wakeham, assistant principal at Trenton High School. Three transportation companies were considered to take over all district busing, including staff, and the former interns selected Lansing based Dean Transportation. Wakeham and Porreca were at the meeting to give …

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Bob the Builder

10:09 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Dean does offer medical...for a price. Combine the weekly deduction with the lower salary they pay and there isn't much left for your family. For a TPS driver to get medical now, you must have a bid run of at least 6 hours a day. That 'qualifies' you to PURCHASE your medical at the price of $2.70 an hour. And that is for EVERY hour you work, not just your bid hours. So every night and Saturday …   more ›

A Resident's Response

Outsourcing: Cost Effective or Unrealistic Expectations?

The Trenton Public Schools Board of Education decided to outsource their IT department to save on costs, but how much will they really be saving?

Monday night, the Trenton Public Schools Board of Education voted to outsource the IT department. While I don't think they reached this vote easily, the decision doesn't feel right. Having been in the field as a professional for several years, outsourcing might not be as cost-effective of a solution as mentioned. During the last Board of Education meeting I attended where Plante & Moran representatives discussing the current technological upgrades, none of the responses given or questions asked hinted that this has been a smooth transition to the new Windows based network. While it is a massive project that will cause far more frustration than receive adulation, bringing in outsourced staff to replace on-site techs during a switch of this …

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