School Bus Time Clocks Raise Questions About Spending

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — New devices being installed in local school buses are raising some questions from drivers.

The devices, called Mobile Data Terminals, or MDTs, are essentially mobile time clocks that each bus driver will use to clock in and out once they begin and finish their routes.

Mechanics started installing them to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus fleet several months ago. Each MDT cost the district $340, bringing the total bill for the district's 1,400 buses to $476,000.

"If accountability is what you want and you want to cut expenses, use the time clock in the garage," a CMS bus driver said. "It's already there."

Carol Stamper, the director of transportation for CMS, said the devices will help the district keep better track of bus drivers' hours.

"Right now, we're basically going to use this for time management purposes," Stamper said. "This will give us that electronic timekeeping, which will be more accurate."

She said more accuracy will save the school system money in the long run, and added that the MDTs may eventually be used to help the district track which students are on which bus.

But the bus driver interviewed for this story said the MDTs raise a question of trust for drivers.

"We're being singled out," she said. "We are the backbone. If we didn't drive, they wouldn't have any children."

The timing of the costly project has also raised some eyebrows. Don Lloyd, from the North Carolina Association of Educators, pointed out that CMS is buying new equipment while simultaneously laying off hundreds of teachers.

"Now is not the time," he said. "If money is tight, we don't have money to spend on devices like this."

CMS officials said they are buying the MDTs with money left over from last year's budget and are convinced the units will pay off in the long run.

Previous Stories: March 25, 2010: CMPD, CMS Argue Over Resource Officer Funding March 24, 2010: CMS Teachers Face Budget Ax March 23, 2010: Board Moves Forward With CMS Teacher Cuts March 17, 2010: CMS Could Consolidate Half-Empty Schools March 16, 2010: CMS Cuts Could Mean Hundreds Of Layoffs

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