ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Getting students to school on time in the City of Roanoke has been an issue for years, whether it’s because of the lack of drivers or buses, the district knew it needed a change. That change came when the city partnered with Zum last year in a $77 million five-year contract.
Zum Transportation Services already serves thousands of schools throughout the country, but Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) is the first to use them in the Commonwealth.
“Beginning of service. We got a call from one of the middle schools saying it was the first time in ten years. School started on time. That’s a wonderful tribute,” said John Gray, the Zum location manager, “The other one is from the teachers and administrators of Patrick Henry being shocked that they got to go home on time for the first time in about 7 to 10 years as well.”
The Operations Officer for the city says they’ve struggled with student arrival times for years. Now, he says Roanoke City Public Schools has an on-time arrival rate of 96% this school year. Almost 20% more compared to the last.
“Our on time travel rate is based on being there 15 minutes before the tardy bell, meaning kids are there in their homeroom if they’re secondary or in their classrooms if they’re elementary. They’ve had breakfast and they’re ready to go. So when the bell rings, unlike in previous years, kids are ready to learn,” said Chris Perkins, the Operations Officer for RCPS.
Zum says it has around 145 bus drivers, gaining about fifteen more since the school year started. Their median pay is about twenty eight dollars an hour. Perkins says parents have left mostly positive comments on the new system, especially liking the app that tracks the students’ buses.
“Knowing where their children are. Buses being on time, knowing when to get to the bus stop and knowing when to expect their kids home, which is light years ahead,” said Perkins.
Zum says a majority of the calls they receive now are not asking when the buses will arrive, but how to get their child on the app.