By: Amanda Wright
Assistant Transportation Manager, Harlow’s School Bus Service
Over the past 14 years, the transportation system for Dickinson Public Schools has undergone remarkable growth. In 2010, the system had seven rural route buses and one SPED bus. During the 2014-2015 school year, in-town busing was introduced to cater to students living within city limits, and routing software was adopted. By the 2015-2016 school year, we were transporting 635 students daily on 16 route buses and one SPED bus. Presently, we transport 1350 students daily via eight rural routes, 21 in-town routes, and three SPED routes. Additionally, two shuttle buses are available to take high school students to the Southwest Area CTE Academy for classes throughout the day.
The number of activity trips and field trips taken by the transportation system has also gone up. In the 2013-2014 school year, we had 543 scheduled trips, compared to the 630 trips taken last year during the 2022-2023 school year.
With all our growth and increased travel, there has been a significant rise in the number of miles covered by the buses each year. In the 2013-2014 school year, we covered 205,463 miles, while in the 2022-2023 school year, the buses covered 399,602 miles.
Harlow's is thrilled to expand with Dickinson Public Schools as the district continues to grow. The transportation system's accomplishments serve as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the people who have made it possible.
