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Board approves three-year EverDriven contract and multi-year Kickert increase for student transportation
Summary
The board approved a three-year extension for EverDriven at a flat rate and a multi-year price schedule with Kickert after hearing the providers' cost pressures, including higher driver wages and new county leave requirements.
Homewood School District 153 on June 9 approved a three-year contract extension with EverDriven for door-to-door transportation of special-education students and extended the district’s contract with Kickert with staged increases over three years.
Dr. Trimberger summarized the EverDriven proposal, saying the district would pay a flat rate of $82.40 for the first 12 miles and $12.58 per mile for trips over 12 miles for the contract period 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2028. The board approved the EverDriven contract as presented.
Regarding Kickert, Trimberger said the vendor initially requested a substantially larger increase but the administration negotiated a schedule the board approved: an 8% increase for 2025–26, a 6% increase for 2026–27 and a 5% increase for 2027–28. Trimberger told the board Kickert cited rising driver wage costs — including a reported new starting wage of $25 per hour — compliance costs from the Cook County Paid Leave Act, higher insurance and workers’ compensation premiums driven by wages, and a roughly 15% increase in replacement-bus costs.
Why it matters: transportation contracts are a major operational cost for districts. The EverDriven contract establishes fixed per-trip pricing for special-education door-to-door service; the Kickert increases reflect market pressures the district says it faces in securing daily bus service.
Board discussion: board members acknowledged the market pressures. No public speakers opposed the contracts during the meeting. Both motions were recorded as approved by roll-call vote.
Next steps: the business office will execute the EverDriven three-year agreement and the Kickert extension consistent with the approved rates and adjustments.
