Richland 2 board hears transportation operations update; district pilots RFID bus ID at two elementary summer sites

At the June 10, 2025, meeting of the Richland 2 board of trustees, district operations staff gave a detailed update on student transportation that included fleet size and age, staffing levels, safety measures and a summer pilot of Tyler Drive RFID bus identification at two elementary schools.

The briefing, led by Will Anderson, Chief of Operations for Richland 2, and transportation staff, outlined the district's mix of state‑owned and district‑owned buses, recent purchases made with bond funds and ongoing efforts to recruit drivers and reduce safety risks. "For the time in a very long time, we are almost a 100 staffed, across the board," Anderson told the board.

Why it matters: transportation is among the district's largest operational systems and affects daily safety, school arrival times and the district budget. The presentation identified near‑term cost pressures and operational changes that could affect routes, staffing and special programs.

District and fleet facts

Jasmine James, the district's transportation routing and GIS specialist, explained the district's stop‑eligibility rules and how they differ from statewide guidance. "We do give that 0.5 mileage to our students. The…