[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6170980,"mediaKeyId","5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b","parentId",5395148,"title","District updates bus discipline matrix; draft emphasizes progressive steps and parent contact","audioSeconds",350,"startMs",6756000,"endMs",7106000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b&start=6756&end=7106","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b/thumbnail_6756000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6170980/New-Mexico/District-updates-bus-discipline-matrix-draft-emphasizes-progressive-steps-and-parent-contact","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170980-3df8028477609c096709680968fda9de/orig.mp4?Expires=1775157833&Signature=kbFz-Ug-Dn924gb38tn~-Vq9KsydHR0BDBm2UDGaoQeeU~l~q~3EBUs7tr5ER7Z7UWNAOaEooeWHArUf89Es2ZPqI~NXxrs6ucDyRYg2tF7iygTJ0cSiwIx9hxBo0zxgQxr0IfAWbv5KNpCIFXhcDm7tnn32Z2wkt0zmO29-hQ1b7NBvB7FwHveff~lAaumrgBMF-JULM5OcQEpBmvKR1rcJ9P6CmtsWvrpVm~GEbC8vnH~r2PrRXkd9UjqV0i3iLEI0AbMuOoaukpUov8e5sBjrZ~xnxx-RDq8FaNpmchIYCmGL2yBvow-Mj-PFSdKur1QklZQbWT9IHHAL9EaD1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DEMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS","date","2025-07-16T04:13:12.67Z","article","Deming — Transportation staff presented a draft revision to the district’s bus discipline matrix on July 15 that shifts lower‑level infractions toward progressive interventions, increases parent contact early in the process and coordinates referrals to school administrators instead of immediate long‑term removal from bus service.

Patty Treviso, transportation staff, said the draft is intended to keep students in school while making bus rides safer. The proposed change would make repeated low‑level offenses escalate through progressive steps rather than automatically removing a student from bus service after a fixed number of first‑level incidents. \"Contact parents\" is an explicit early step in each level, Treviso said, and administrators will be expected to respond to referrals promptly.

The draft matrix keeps removal from bus service as an available consequence for repeated or serious offenses but narrows immediate, long‑term removals so families and administrators can pursue corrective steps that keep students in class. Treviso and board members discussed trainings for drivers and bus monitors and a plan to present the draft to building administrators, solicit their feedback, then meet with contractors to align expectations and enforcement.

Board members asked for outcome data. Treviso said the district had at least 15 students removed from buses entirely over the most recent year; she did not provide a full annual breakdown during the meeting but said staff would compile and present that data. Several board members and the superintendent urged that parent notifications, training records and referrals be documented because those records would be relevant if a liability question or review arose later.

Staff described outreach and enforcement steps the district used last year: brief assemblies at school start and near spring break; social‑media PSA posts; and partnership opportunities to train drivers and use bus monitors to improve on‑bus behavior. Treviso said administrators recommended the progressive approach to avoid indefinitely denying students transportation when that would prevent them from attending school.

Next steps: staff will present the draft first to administrators, gather feedback, then consult contractors before returning a revised matrix to the board for formal adoption. The board also requested compiled referral and removal data for the prior year to accompany the next report.

Why it matters: Bus discipline policies determine how the district balances student access to school, rider safety and driver working conditions. The district’s draft changes emphasize documented interventions and parent contact before longer suspensions from bus service.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7/15/25 Board Work Session - Transportation","oneSentenceSummary","Transportation staff presented a revised bus discipline matrix aimed at more progressive, documented responses to misconduct on buses, added parental contact steps and plans for driver training and school‑level supports.","taxTitle","DEMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, School Districts, New Mexico","taxId",38292,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170985,"Board hears activity‑bus MOU rates and usage; district and contractors debate per‑mile vs. flat rates",3483,3212000,6695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b&start=3212&end=6695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b/thumbnail_3212000.jpg","/articles/6170985/New-Mexico/Board-hears-activitybus-MOU-rates-and-usage-district-and-contractors-debate-permile-vs-flat-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170985-f25f210b502d3f9452ef143c7e697f65/orig.mp4?Expires=1775157833&Signature=DPiRv5Tl8q8jEs2d4CaWm5vsqulVOVlpYpoXx9zxAPTzDrDdhDtkJFx~xRsY-1KrPybEBZA~-OuaCnMdWpRfsoeM8IyE8ugLMaYwwDAYZ69IPHRzNRcc5Uhjh0EBfO-~~t~KQutOK1Vj9yhsVgSj1VuUjpxkTFLLxKa-ZFTYFXbh978zTbrGZ00N0xKpAGvmjtfVTnbmWbxxUvAksOb4TyaGQV1x6BO0K57DakFtA2WMvWT~RZXK0cd-zZJFPHIVTnbGwcGJbPUFs316FGI5wDEDye902ggsSZZBspZFI53uODXO0dZ1y4g8geUux7LRzoDs9widmATVeaa71vu6Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deming — On returning from a brief recess, the board on July 15 reviewed activity‑bus operations, trip counts and the memorandum‑of‑understanding rates the district will present for board consideration.

Patty Treviso, transportation staff, presented year‑to‑year trip totals and the activity MOU rates. For 2023‑24 the district logged 468 activity trips (71 taken by M and T, 51 by Hanes). For 2024‑25 the district logged roughly 513 trips with a change in the distribution: 54 by M and T and 20 by Hanes, Treviso said. The district operates five activity buses and two spares, she said.

The proposed MOU for 2025‑26 keeps the same structure used last year: when a district‑owned (DPS) activity bus is used, the district pays a per‑mile rate to cover fuel and a per‑hour driver rate for contractor drivers; when a contractor bus is used, the district pays the contractor per‑mile and per‑hour driver costs. For the coming year the draft keeps the DPS bus per‑mile figure at $1.89 and driver pay at $19 per hour; the contractor bus rate remains at about $3.05 per mile and $19 per hour for the driver.

Contractors described why they sometimes decline to use district buses and why a contractor bus or an out‑of‑district flat‑hourly quote can cost more. M and T and Hanes representatives told the board that several of the district’s “snub‑nose” activity buses differ from standard route buses, have different handling characteristics and that some drivers are not certified or comfortable driving those models. \"They just don't feel comfortable in that style of a bus,\" one contractor said when discussing snub‑nose units.

Contractors also explained that multi‑hour tournaments can create long standby obligations for drivers, and out‑of‑town vendors sometimes charge a flat hourly fee that includes travel to and from Deming. Staff ran a sample calculation for a typical Las Cruces round trip (about 120 miles each way): at roughly 8 miles per gallon and a fuel price around $3.39 per gallon, district staff estimated fuel for the round trip at about $51; the remaining portion of the district’s calculated per‑trip $226.80 figure goes to driver pay and contractor administrative overhead, Treviso said.

Board members raised questions about consistency and transparency. Superintendent Nick and Member Kroll asked why some prior years show no per‑mile charge when a contractor drove a district bus, and Treviso said historical practice varied: in some years the district used DPS buses without charging the contractor a per‑mile fee; in other years a per‑mile administrative/fuel fee was applied.

Staff emphasized that the district has tried to use its own activity‑bus fleet first and that higher contractor usage tends to occur when the district is short‑staffed or when specialized buses are required. Treviso told the board that last year, improving staffing in the district’s activity fleet reduced reliance on contractors.

Next steps and board direction: the board will consider the activity MOUs at an upcoming meeting. Staff said they will continue to track usage and discuss alternative pricing methods with contractors (including possible flat‑hourly quotes for some out‑of‑town work) so the board can compare approaches and better understand trade‑offs between district‑owned and contractor‑provided buses.

Why it matters: activity trips — sports, band, field trips — are operationally complex and can require long driver standby times, specialized buses and driver certifications. Those operational realities shape costs and staffing needs that the board must weigh against budget constraints and service expectations.","Deming staff presented activity‑bus trip counts, a proposed MOU preserving current per‑mile and per‑hour rates for 2025‑26, and contractors described operational constraints — driver shortages, snub‑nose buses and out‑of‑town trips that sometimes use flat hourly rates.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170991,"Board reviews school bus contracts as fuel, maintenance and rental fees push costs higher",4869,91000,4960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b&start=91&end=4960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5395148-93ce5f52c237b46cf7b9623d9623eb1b/thumbnail_91000.jpg","/articles/6170991/New-Mexico/Board-reviews-school-bus-contracts-as-fuel-maintenance-and-rental-fees-push-costs-higher","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170991-270f3d65baa3803ef81f025441924b00/orig.mp4?Expires=1775157833&Signature=bwansmxtGhpZfP436NC7kJ7dB~o7D9xSvK5lHsf3025HLcrdaS5Jwpv6~ggaosWNpN4Kus9bXkjiSuSe863omUEYxkUp7dzPW9vR7Ztira8InV55J-2MDoxCOrKI4iXXfmgBI8DIteMeM-S1oZ2VgJr5oYo0YVdsV0vEVZeY11Ko-4zXDjuX0Q8mVT-cx~7CT06ZSicTeTQXkdb1NeU6NykPum96ho75bkyQyS~eb-x5gPHw35yR9KQf09Z7PYGkYdpDN4c~1q3UyzmFWhc9CSlRnaelCcPVK8U3H2j1-SACnsNarL2gySaRT0MlBXtt4x3ZsVw7wkbw8KVJUcNspw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deming — School district staff, two contracted bus companies and board members on July 15 reviewed the district’s “to‑and‑from” transportation contracts and how fuel, maintenance and rental‑fee rules from the state affect local costs.

The discussion focused on three budget drivers: the PED allocation that is based on the state’s 120th‑day ridership count; a negotiated 6% increase the district approved this year for contractor salaries and for the combined operations, maintenance and fuel (OMF) per‑mile payment; and rental fees passed through from PED when buses are replaced.

That 120th‑day reporting, staff said, is a state statutory requirement and counts students who actually rode buses on that single day. \"It's because they want as many kids to ride that day as possible,\" Superintendent Nick said, explaining why local allocations sometimes fall short of projected needs. Patty Treviso, transportation staff, told the board the district reported 2,819 riders on the 120th day; 184 were exceptional‑student riders. Local riders numbered 2,036 and 783 came via the port of entry, she said.

Why the numbers matter: Joe Adcock, district finance staff, showed a spreadsheet mapping PED allocations against contract line items and said the PED allocation to the district rose about 4% this year. District staff and contractors negotiated a 6% increase for \"salaries and benefits\" and a 6% increase for the per‑mile operation/maintenance/fuel figure, which contractors put at roughly $2.00 per mile this year from about $1.89.

Adcock and Treviso told board members the total dollar change is moderated by mileage shifts; M and T reported lower total miles this year, reducing the overall contract increase in dollars even though rates rose. The spreadsheet used by staff showed an example annual mileage figure of about 326,630 miles for one contractor’s routes in the year presented.

Rental fees, staff said, are handled separately. Treviso and Adcock said PED lists rental allocations when a bus is scheduled for replacement; the district passes that rental money to the contractor over the rental term while PED remains the source. As an example, staff presented a recent bus costing about $129,000 with a rental payment schedule that would yield about $33,000 a year to the district and, over 52 months, about $144,000 to the contractor depending on how the contractor finances the purchase.

Board members pressed for greater clarity. Member Kroll said board oversight requires that the district show how increases break down by fuel, maintenance, and salaries. \"It would be more fair and make more sense and be more transparent ... if we were actually using the methodology based on average maintenance costs and actual fuel used and projected fuel per mile,\" she said. President Orozco and other board members asked staff to separate future negotiations into three distinct buckets — fuel per mile, maintenance by bus, and salaries — rather than a combined per‑mile payment.

Staff described two reasons the district sometimes must use operational dollars to cover contracted transportation costs: (1) the PED allocation is based on the single‑day ridership count and not total eligible riders, and (2) rental fees may appear or grow during a year when PED authorizes bus replacements. Adcock said the district will seek clearer financial detail from contractors in future negotiations.

Contractor representatives said driver recruitment and certain repairs are increasing their costs. David Sanchez of M and T and Brandon Hanes of Hanes buses described rising parts and labor prices, long tow charges for buses sent to larger service centers, and a limited local diesel mechanic workforce. Hanes said recruiting and training drivers is costly and some contractors now pay for medical and testing required to secure commercial driver credentials.

Board members and staff also discussed warranties, maintenance capability and the district’s limited ability to force changes mid‑contract. Treviso reviewed the termination process described in the contracts and the state code: if the district alleges violations, it must serve notice, hold a hearing within 10 days and the decision is subject to the state transportation director’s approval; appraisals by three board‑appointed appraisers are required if buses would be transferred to a successor contractor.

No formal change to contracts was made during the meeting. Staff said MOUs and any contract amendments for the upcoming fiscal year will be returned to the board for consideration; a full‑service quote the district solicited from out‑of‑area operators was shared with the board for comparison. The board voted to recess before moving to activity‑bus matters.

Why it matters: The district pays more than $2 million annually for contracted transportation. When PED allocations fall short of contract costs, the general operational budget subsidizes transportation — an effect board members said they want better data to explain to taxpayers and to compare against similar districts.

Staff direction and next steps: The board asked staff to present future negotiations with a clearer breakdown between fuel, maintenance (per bus) and salaries; to request more detailed contractor financial reports when appropriate; and to place any contract amendments before the board for formal approval.","Deming Public Schools staff and contractors outlined a negotiated 6% increase to salaries and to the combined operations/maintenance/fuel per-mile payment, distinctions in rental-fee pass-throughs from the Public Education Department (PED), and how 120th‑day ridership counts affect state allocations.","actionData","errors"]

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District updates bus discipline matrix; draft emphasizes progressive steps and parent contact

Board hears activity‑bus MOU rates and usage; district and contractors debate per‑mile vs. flat rates

Board reviews school bus contracts as fuel, maintenance and rental fees push costs higher