Transportation Director Doug Caldwell briefed the board on routes, staffing, the vehicle fleet and services for special‑needs students.

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Caldwell said staffing remained largely unchanged from the prior year, the district runs about 66 routes per day, has ordered a replacement bus to arrive by June and is managing several older vehicles that require semiannual inspections.

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The update highlighted operations (drivers, aides, substitutes), routing (including service to preschool partners and the career academy), the district’s rolling‑stock rotation strategy and supports for special‑needs riders.

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Staffing and fleet: Caldwell said staffing is “basically remained the same with 11 route drivers, 1 driver in the office, 1 driver trainer,” plus “2 bus aids that ride our special needs buses, and we have 3 outside subs currently.” He said equipment includes “16 yellows, 4 white activities” and noted the district plans to order a new bus in November with an expected delivery by June and a trade‑in of an older bus.

Older vehicles and inspections: Caldwell said the district has “4 currently that are 12 years old or older, and those require an inspection every 6 months.” He reported the fleet recently passed required inspections and said rotating in newer buses will reduce the number of vehicles requiring semiannual checks.

Routes, miles and services: On routing he said the district runs “66 routes per day, that's counting our AM and PM” and summarized total activity as “11,780 routes driven,” plus “5 55 trips outside of our routes” (field trips and athletics). He added the system logged “160,414 miles plus 15,000.” Caldwell also described service to partner sites (preschool programs at Linwood/Durgan) and support for McKinney‑Vento students where the district must ensure transportation.

On‑time performance and parent feedback: A parent in attendance praised improved punctuality, saying pickups now vary by “30 seconds” compared with prior variability. Caldwell cautioned that construction and other factors can affect on‑time performance and credited drivers for consistency.

Special‑needs supports and safety: Caldwell explained bus aides are trained in “the procurement of the wheelchair… First aid” and that aides take recertification each summer. He confirmed that all buses have audio and video recording equipment used when conduct reports are filed.

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Caldwell said the district continues recruiting drivers and will proceed with the planned fleet rotation and ordering schedule; board members thanked transportation staff for their work.