Q: How do we know that a Durham operation will be as safe as the one the district provides?

A: Durham School Services must adhere to the same rules and regulations governing the operation of school buses as your school district. But as a private sector company, there are additional requirements we must meet that a school district does not have to worry about. For example, state inspectors and state authorities are more rigorous in their examination of our employees and in the inspection of our buses. We must meet higher standards than most school districts. The bottom line is that, on a national basis, our industry has a safety record that is equal to—and in most cases better than—public sector operations.

Q: What happens to our employees?

A: Current transportation employees are an important concern for both the district and Durham. It is in our best interest to retain as many of these people who meet our employment standards since they are already familiar with the community, its parents, and the children. These employees receive first consideration for all available positions. The drivers who come to work for Durham will receive a competitive wage package.

All drivers will be required to pass a drug and alcohol screen, a criminal background check, and a driving evaluation. This will ensure they meet the high standards both the district and Durham agree are necessary to run a safe and efficient school transportation program.

Q: What kind of employee benefits do you provide?

A: We provide a benefits package that includes health insurance, 401(k), profit sharing, and career advancement opportunities. We customize the benefit plan for each of our customers, which is usually comparable to the one currently being provided.

Q: What about student discipline? Who handles what?

A: We believe that student discipline is a critical issue for both the company and the district. Keeping this in mind, we strongly feel that a partnership approach regarding student management is key to students reaching their full potential in the classroom. So, we customize a student management plan that is based on the district’s discipline policy while incorporating our best practices. Plus, we rely on close cooperation between the school site staff and the driver for effective implementation. Our experience tells us that this formula is highly successful in keeping discipline issues that cross your desk to a minimum.

Q: How can Durham School Services provide equal service at a lower cost and still make a profit?

A: There are three principal reasons for this:

First, the public sector operates in a monopolistic environment while the private sector functions in a competitive environment. In other words, a company like Durham has competition; a school district has no one to compete with but itself. Private company managers are constantly faced with the challenge of providing quality service at a competitive price. We must compete for your business not only within our own industry, but also with you. Yet school districts can’t easily measure their performance against companies like ours because the accounting policies and standards are very different. Additionally, our managers’ compensation and benefits programs are directly tied to an efficient and cost-effective operation. Cost savings and efficiency are not really issues of public versus private, but rather are a result of competition in the marketplace.

Second, Durham School Services’ general managers—the people responsible for operating a program on a day-to-day basis—are backed by a Corporate staff of individuals with expertise in each area of the operations, i.e., safety, training, maintenance, operations, and cost control. When a Durham manager is confronted with a new or unusual problem, they are not in the position of having to “reinvent the wheel” in order to find the solution. Durham’s years of experience provide a wealth of information. This allows our Corporate group to provide the local manager with solutions that will be safe and cost effective. No matter how good your transportation management group is, they cannot be experts in all areas. Nor is it possible for your district to have the resources we provide to our field management staff.

Third, capital costs (buses and equipment) are spread over the entire useful life of the equipment when we price a proposal. Therefore, the district pays only a proportional share on an annual basis, rather than the total cost for replacement. This leveling of equipment costs plus accelerated tax deductions available to the private sector create lower costs for the customer.

In summary, there are multiple ways our managers work every day to assure the safest, most cost-effective operating program. It’s all of the big and little efficiencies combined that result in a highly-efficient, low-cost operation that can improve safety, quality, and service to your district.

Q: How do we know that a Durham operation will be as safe as the one the district provides?

A: Durham School Services must adhere to the same rules and regulations governing the operation of school buses as your school district. But as a private sector company, there are additional requirements we must meet that a school district does not have to worry about. For example, state inspectors and state authorities are more rigorous in their examination of our employees and in the inspection of our buses. We must meet higher standards than most school districts. The bottom line is that, on a national basis, our industry has a safety record that is equal to—and in most cases better than—public sector operations.

Q: What happens to our employees?

A: Current transportation employees are an important concern for both the district and Durham. It is in our best interest to retain as many of these people who meet our employment standards since they are already familiar with the community, its parents, and the children. These employees receive first consideration for all available positions. The drivers who come to work for Durham will receive a competitive wage package.

All drivers will be required to pass a drug and alcohol screen, a criminal background check, and a driving evaluation. This will ensure they meet the high standards both the district and Durham agree are necessary to run a safe and efficient school transportation program.

Q: What kind of employee benefits do you provide?

A: We provide a benefits package that includes health insurance, 401(k), profit sharing, and career advancement opportunities. We customize the benefit plan for each of our customers, which is usually comparable to the one currently being provided.

Q: What about student discipline? Who handles what?

A: We believe that student discipline is a critical issue for both the company and the district. Keeping this in mind, we strongly feel that a partnership approach regarding student management is key to students reaching their full potential in the classroom. So, we customize a student management plan that is based on the district’s discipline policy while incorporating our best practices. Plus, we rely on close cooperation between the school site staff and the driver for effective implementation. Our experience tells us that this formula is highly successful in keeping discipline issues that cross your desk to a minimum.

Q: How can Durham School Services provide equal service at a lower cost and still make a profit?

A: There are three principal reasons for this:

First, the public sector operates in a monopolistic environment while the private sector functions in a competitive environment. In other words, a company like Durham has competition; a school district has no one to compete with but itself. Private company managers are constantly faced with the challenge of providing quality service at a competitive price. We must compete for your business not only within our own industry, but also with you. Yet school districts can’t easily measure their performance against companies like ours because the accounting policies and standards are very different. Additionally, our managers’ compensation and benefits programs are directly tied to an efficient and cost-effective operation. Cost savings and efficiency are not really issues of public versus private, but rather are a result of competition in the marketplace.

Second, Durham School Services’ general managers—the people responsible for operating a program on a day-to-day basis—are backed by a Corporate staff of individuals with expertise in each area of the operations, i.e., safety, training, maintenance, operations, and cost control. When a Durham manager is confronted with a new or unusual problem, they are not in the position of having to “reinvent the wheel” in order to find the solution. Durham’s years of experience provide a wealth of information. This allows our Corporate group to provide the local manager with solutions that will be safe and cost effective. No matter how good your transportation management group is, they cannot be experts in all areas. Nor is it possible for your district to have the resources we provide to our field management staff.

Third, capital costs (buses and equipment) are spread over the entire useful life of the equipment when we price a proposal. Therefore, the district pays only a proportional share on an annual basis, rather than the total cost for replacement. This leveling of equipment costs plus accelerated tax deductions available to the private sector create lower costs for the customer.

In summary, there are multiple ways our managers work every day to assure the safest, most cost-effective operating program. It’s all of the big and little efficiencies combined that result in a highly-efficient, low-cost operation that can improve safety, quality, and service to your district.