Among the men keeping Bedford County school buses rolling are (from left) mechanics Jackie Hambrick and Ray Wiser, Transportation Supervisor David Parker, mechanic Ronnie Curtis and shop foreman Dale Davis. (T-G Photo by Clint Confehr) [Click to enlarge]

Bedford County's school buses are ready for the beginning of the new school year Monday morning.

But this year's school bus stops could be relocated next year with a computer program that's hungry for more data.

Implementation of the program has been delayed for a couple of years, according to David Parker, transportation supervisor for county schools, who said principals and/or others at the schools need to provide student address information.

"It probably won't be a big change," Parker said of possible bus route adjustments. "The program takes into account where the buses are parked," and many are kept overnight at drivers' homes.

Furthermore, the computer program will help Schools Superintendent Ed Gray provide the school board with information on the prospect of redrawing school attendance zones. Many school systems across America --such as Nashville's -- redraw attendance zone lines every year.

Different attendance zones can mean different bus stop locations for a number of students and those are things being studied this school year at central offices for various reasons including time, money and education.

Redrawing attendance zone lines can help improve academic test scores because students do better when they don't change schools as often as those who go to Thomas Intermediate School, which only serves 4th and 5th graders, Gray said.

Substantiating Gray's point is Connie Smith, director of the Tennessee Department of Education's office overseeing the state's implementation of President Bush's No Child Left Behind program.

"The less disruption you have, the more improvement you have," Smith said earlier this month, quoting research by Dr. Bill Sanders, a Bedford County native who's become a leader in academic testing.

The bus routing program will, according to the schools transportation supervisor, "bring up socio-economic information. It's helpful with rezoning schools."

The program and related services from a New York City-based consultant are "helpful for several things," Parker said.

Academic achievement standards aren't the only state requirement facing county schools. State Trooper Neil Cole visited the schools' bus garage last month to inspect the fleet.

Cole rates buses' safety with a number: One, two and three.

"Three means it's just unsafe to be on the road," Parker said. "Cole looked for things such as play in the steering wheel, oil leaks and seat cover tears."

That includes cushions on the rear of seats to protect students seated one row back.

"All buses were repaired before they were pulled out of the garage," Parker said.

The county has 75 buses, he said. Seven were rated at a three, but are repaired now. Three were rated at two and 65 were said to be in top shape.

"We're going to do a few things different this year ... to make our scores better next year," Parker continued.

It's as simple as a routine maintenance schedule.

"In the past, the buses were brought in for oil changes and when they needed repair," he said. "Now, they'll bring them in at least once or maybe two times a year and we'll conduct an inspection like the state does.

"We've got a schedule that will be handed out," Parker said of a distribution planned for this morning.

Meanwhile, Parker was also awarding nearly a dozen drivers this morning with checks for donated money that rewards them for perfect attendance during the last school year. It's part of an in-service training program for drivers.

Greg Baldwin of American School Management Systems was to review state records and talk about safety and how to avoid a crash, Parker said.

The in-service training was set at Shelbyville Recreation Center.