Lakeland board approves three positions as bus-route changes continue

The Lakeland Joint School District Board of Trustees on a voice vote approved a position-control adjustment to add one elementary teacher and two bus aides and to repurpose an existing driver slot toward an assistant transportation supervisor, board members said. The move followed months of changes to bus routes that the district implemented to reduce costs and then partially reversed after schools opened and families raised safety and access concerns. Outgoing transportation director Jessica Deener and assistant superintendent Jake Massey briefed trustees on which stops and routes had been consolidated and which would be reinstated if drivers were available. Why it matters: Trustees had asked last summer for $500,000 in transportation budget reductions. District leaders said some cuts were implemented through route consolidation, but the board later authorized restoring specific stops and staffing where safety or operational problems emerged. Discussion vs. decision: Board members and staff described multiple iterations of routing that consolidated several neighborhood stops into centralized stops to shorten mileage and improve safety; they also described reinstatements at Timberlake, Twin Lakes and other neighborhoods after community feedback. The board formally approved the position-control request to address staffing gaps caused by the route changes. Details and funding: District staff said the net ask was about $125,000 but that figure reflected internal reassignments and anticipated state apportionment increases; staff also noted the district will receive state reimbursements for transportation salaries (a partial percentage reported as 50% for most positions and higher for certain mechanics), and that some reimbursement calculations are complex and vary by line item. Operational effects: Jessica Deener described route maps comparing 2024–25 to 2025–26 and said many consolidated stops left some students closer to new centralized stops while other communities required reinstated stops because of safety or long turnarounds. The district continues a relief-driver pool and uses a route-bidding process for drivers based on seniority. Next steps: Staff will document the precise reimbursement rates and the detailed budget breakout for the new positions and provide reports on route reinstatements and the driver hiring status. Board members asked staff to deliver written clarifications on state reimbursements and the net budget impact.