Board approves five-year extension with First Student; district wins PGE grant for electric buses

The West Linn–Wilsonville School District Board on Monday approved a five‑year extension of its transportation contract with First Student, authorizing a renewal that runs July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The contract was presented by operations staff and approved unanimously.

Why it matters: the extension sets a new standard-route rate and locks in multi-year increases while the district transitions bus fleets and addresses driver recruitment and safety enhancements.

What the board approved: operations director Jeremy Nichols told the board the negotiated amendment includes a 6% rate increase in year one and a 7.85% increase for years two through five. Under the contract the district’s standard home-to-school route rate will be $530 for the coming year. Nichols estimated the net additional cost to the district—after state reimbursement—at about $150,000 for year one. Nichols also said the state reimburses roughly 70% for qualifying standard routes.

Nichols said First Student has recently raised starting driver pay at the local facility to about $31 an hour and that the contractor has improved driver recruitment and retention since the driver shortage peaked. "We've been very pleased with First Student's performance. They're extremely responsive," Nichols told the board.

Electric buses and safety technology: the operations presentation included two related updates. First, the district is the recipient of a $728,000 grant from Portland General Electric to purchase three electric buses and the necessary charging infrastructure; school staff said First Student will manage purchase and infrastructure work at the district's transportation location. Second, Nichols noted House Bill 4147, effective Jan. 1, which allows stop-arm cameras on school buses; First Student intends to adopt camera systems where practical to help enforcement of stop-arm laws.

Board action and vote: a motion to renew the extension passed with a unanimous recorded vote (Director Shoemaker, Director Sloop, Vice Chair White, Director Vidal and Chair Taylor all voting aye). The business office will finalize contract paperwork with district legal counsel.

Community service and routes: board members asked how parents or residents should report route complaints. Nichols said families should submit a transportation request through the district’s online portal; that triggers a coordinated response with First Student and the district transportation office.

Next steps: the district will finalize the extension documents, proceed with grant procurement and infrastructure planning for the electric buses and consider stop-arm camera rollout with First Student and legal counsel.

Ending: the contract extension keeps route planning and daily operations with the current provider while the district pursues a partial electrification of its fleet and adopts legal changes intended to improve student safety.