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Board discusses driver shortage, contract extension and status of district-owned band bus; legal counsel requested
Summary
District staff reported a shortfall of bus drivers and said negotiations on a contract-extension addendum with the vendor remain ongoing. Trustees questioned whether a district-owned bus that cannot pass inspection should be gifted or sold to boosters; staff said they will seek legal guidance.
The board received an update from transportation staff: the district is down roughly 10 drivers, has about five drivers in the pipeline, and is negotiating a contract-extension addendum with its transportation vendor.
Staff said driver recruitment remains challenging across districts as other local employers raise hourly rates; the district is participating in state and regional organizations (OAPT) and preparing route-book updates and driver appreciation events. Staff reported several special trips and the end-of-year picnic are scheduled.
Board members asked about a single district-owned bus that staff said cannot pass State Highway Patrol inspection for transporting students. Staff described that bus as being intended for equipment-only use by the band boosters (drums and large instruments) and said they are awaiting attorney guidance on whether the district can gift, sell or lease the bus to boosters or to the district's Education Trust. Trustees raised liability and title-transfer concerns and asked for a legal opinion on whether the district retains any continuing liability if the bus is transferred and used only for equipment.
The board also heard repeated requests from music staff during the meeting about potential transportation subsidies for trips and asked staff to examine options.
