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District 57 reports mostly smooth first day under new bus contractor; drivers were new to routes
Summary
The district said first-through-eighth grades began the year smoothly after coordination with a new bus company; administrators credited preparatory coordination and on-site company representatives, while noting drivers were largely new to routes and district will monitor for complaints.
Superintendent Dr. Mary Gore reported that the first day of school for grades 1–8 went largely smoothly after the district transitioned to a new bus contractor. Gore said the district coordinated extensively with the contractor and that representatives from the company were present on campuses. "We were pleased that the company had representatives on the scene," Gore said, noting the district's transportation director and other staff had worked to prepare routes.
Why it matters: Transportation changes affect many families and can disrupt students’ first-day experiences. District staff said careful preparation helped mitigate typical startup problems.
Details: Administrators said many of the drivers are new to the routes and that none of the district’s former drivers necessarily moved with the contractor. One board member reported seeing a summer-school driver from the new company who specifically requested to continue driving routes for the students she worked with at summer school. Administrators said they expected to address any individual complaints and will continue to adjust as needed.
Ending: District staff said they will monitor operations in the coming days and make adjustments where necessary, reporting updates to the board if issues emerge.
