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Tiverton approves three‑year student transportation agreement; administration cites route control and savings
Summary
The committee unanimously approved a three‑year transportation contract with First Student for regular and statewide services; administration highlighted route control, a $12,500 credit, fuel adjustment language and expected savings from statewide placements and route consolidation.
The Tiverton School Committee unanimously approved a three‑year student transportation contract on June 10, with an optional two‑year renewal left for future negotiation.
Brandon Andrade, the district administrator who presented the agreement, said First Student will begin providing service immediately for the district’s ESY (extended school year) summer programs and will take over certain statewide transportation for out‑of‑district special education placements. Andrade said the contract includes a $12,500 invoice credit from the vendor, a fuel‑adjustment metric increased to six cents per gallon (from four cents) and an administrative clause that requires the contractor to present route maps to the district before school starts. Andrade said he negotiated route and billing terms and that the district has the final say on routes.
Administration identified expected savings from several changes: consolidating routes, Pacasset hosting both Pre‑K programs next year (reducing one bus and a monitor), and bringing statewide placement transportation in‑house. Andrade estimated statewide placement consolidation and route changes will produce significant savings (the budgetary analysis referenced roughly $200,000 in wider savings for statewide consolidation but did not allocate all savings to the district). He also said the contract sets minimum billing for out‑of‑district trips at four hours (reduced from a requested six) and bills excess time in 15‑minute increments.
Committee members asked for written confirmation that route maps would be submitted 30 days before school starts (the contract clause reads 15 days); Andrade agreed to request the longer window and noted that using a 30‑day rule may require a July meeting to finalize schedules.
The motion to approve the three‑year contract passed unanimously; the committee asked administration to present route proposals in advance of the start of school and to continue exploring potential partnerships with neighboring districts for additional savings.
