Board approves First Student contract for small-group/individual transportation; $161.85 per route per day cited

The Board of Education voted to approve an agreement with First Student to provide individual and small-group transportation services for the district, citing a per-route daily cost in the contract documents.

A board motion to approve the contract included an option to expand service annually for up to two additional years at the per-route rate of $161.85 per day as listed in the proposal. The motion passed with a roll-call vote recorded in the meeting transcript; the clerk recorded members as voting "yes" (names as read aloud at the meeting).

Board members and staff told the board they had reviewed references for First Student and discussed operational details such as driver sourcing, vehicle inspections and how families would be notified of pickup details. Staff said the vendor uses an app that allows tracking, provides driver identification and permits direct communication with families; district staff named a liaison to coordinate with the vendor and families on day-to-day questions.

One trustee asked about rider safety and parent notification; staff said drivers are subject to company training and vehicle-inspection standards and that the district and vendor would confirm a point of contact for families and the school. A referenced estimate in the discussion said the contract will yield modest savings over previous arrangements when the multi-year option is exercised.

The motion carried and staff will proceed with contract implementation and communication to families who will use the service.