The Challenge: Rising Specialized Transportation Needs Amid Safety & Liability Concerns

Richmond County School System (RCSS) is a large school district in the state of Georgia, serving more than 30,000 students across Augusta and its surrounding communities. Over the years, the district’s special education population has grown, making their transportation needs more complex.

Special Education Director Dr. Larina Thomas and Special Education Coordinator Dr. Courtney Flournoy faced several known challenges:

• Students in crisis
• Students with long commutes
• Students with special needs who often needed transportation arranged with little notice

They recognized the need for a transportation partner that could provide safe, consistent, small-format transportation to complement their fleet of school buses. Traditional options, such as Yellow Cab or other third-party services, raised safety and reliability concerns.

“In Georgia, the liability piece is huge,” Thomas said. “We needed a solution that blended with our current format, that was vetted, and that parents could trust.”

Initially, they were looking to accommodate a handful of alternative routes. But as needs grew, especially for students with special needs, RCSS quickly realized they needed a partner capable of scaling rapidly while still offering reliability, professionalism, and a positive student experience.

The Solution: Flexible, Safe, and Scalable Student Transportation with EverDriven

Through conversations with other districts, the team at RCSS was introduced to EverDriven: a leading alternative student transportation provider supporting nationwide school districts with similar challenges.

What began as one-off solution quickly became a foundational partnership.

“What really sold me was the customer service,” Thomas said. “Anytime we had to coordinate with parents or different agencies, EverDriven made it easy.”

“The scalability has been huge,” Flournoy added. “We went from six vehicle routes to 24, and EverDriven handled that growth seamlessly.”

Richmond County’s district leaders appreciate a few key differentiators of EverDriven above all else:

• The EverDriven service is responsive and flexible.
• Safety is a top priority, with EverDriven adhering to the highest regulations for both drivers and vehicles.
• EverDriven is easy to work with, interoperating seamlessly with existing operations.

Responsiveness & Flexibility

Thomas emphasized EverDriven’s ability to pivot quickly.

“Even if it was a last-minute request, they’ve found a way to accommodate us,” she said.
“We’ve had multiple cases where a route was set up within 24 hours.”

Safety & Reliability

When the RCSS team learned that EverDriven drivers might also drive for rideshare services like Uber outside of school hours, they initially raised an eyebrow. But those concerns were alleviated when the EverDriven team explained the extensive screening, certification, and training requirements of their drivers, in addition to their technology suite which further cements the safety, reliability, and efficiency of their fleet.

“The level of safety was far beyond what we expected,” Thomas said. “Once we understood the vetting process, we felt completely reassured.”

Seamless Fit with Existing Operations

EverDriven complements RCSS’s traditional bus fleet, focusing on students with special needs so the school buses can transport the majority without distraction or delay.

The Results: Higher Student Attendance, Happier Parents & Real Impact for Families

RCSS has seen positive outcomes from their partnership with EverDriven across multiple dimensions:

• Student satisfaction: Students transported by EverDriven have consistently reported positive experiences and on-time arrivals. They benefit from predictable routines, trained caregivers that prioritize their unique needs, and a reliable ride to school every single day.
• Parent satisfaction: Parents have gained confidence knowing EverDriven routes are tracked, drivers are certified, and communication is available in real time.

“Parents are impressed,” Flournoy noted. “They’ve felt their children are safe, supported, and cared for.”

• Operational success: EverDriven has freed up the district’s yellow buses for high-capacity routes, while ensuring vulnerable students receive the individualized transportation they need.
• Equitable access to education for students: Students that otherwise may not have an option to get to school are taken care of with EverDriven. Dr. Flournoy shared a memorable experience involving a student who needed immediate transportation support:

“For two days, this child had no way to get to school,” Flournoy said. “EverDriven stepped in immediately. They were on time, they were safe, and they made sure the student was taken care of. That speaks for itself.”

RCSS now calls EverDriven its most reliable transportation partner for students with special needs, providing predictability in an environment where unpredictability is the norm.

“Having worked with EverDriven at this point, the differences are clear,” Thomas said.
“It’s the flexibility, the responsiveness, the professionalism—and the consistency.”

Looking Ahead: A Modern Transportation Model, Built to Scale

With needs continuing to grow, RCSS plans to keep expanding its hybrid transportation model, incorporating EverDriven as a core component of the district’s approach to equity and access.

“EverDriven has been a success in our area,” Flournoy said. “And honestly, the results speak for themselves.”

By combining safety, flexibility, and unwavering customer service, EverDriven is helping Richmond County ensure that every child — regardless of circumstance — can get to school safely and reliably every single day.