OXFORD — The Oxford Hills School District has been able to reduce its bus routes by almost a dozen since it began using a state bus transportation program, according to SAD 17 Transportation Director David Fontaine.

“It gives me a visual of where students live,” Fontaine said in a presentation to the SAD 17 Board of Directors on Monday. 

Fontaine said he was able to cut at least three high school/elementary bus runs out and seven more high and middle school bus runs in the past several years since using the Transfinder.

The Maine Department of Education began partnering with Transfinder in the 2011-12 school year to offer online training in the company’s Student Routing and Transportation Management System. About 85 school districts across the state signed up with the program, according to information from the Department of Education.

The Department of Education offered the Transfinder software package to school districts at no cost. The software package provides districts with a computerized routing system complete with county maps; automated field trip tracking; dissemination of information to parents and community members; and fleet maintenance management.

By using the program, Fontaine said it saves the school district thousands of dollars each year.

Parents can also look at their child’s bus route through the software.

“It’s been huge,” Fontaine said, adding that existing routes have become much more efficient.

ldixon@sunjournal.com