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Taos Municipal Schools board approves transportation contracts amid concerns about long routes
Summary
The Taos Municipal Schools Board approved contractor agreements for student transportation for the 2025–26 school year after staff described route consolidation, one overcapacity route and contractor pay/operations practices. Community members and board members thanked drivers for long service.
The Taos Municipal Schools Board approved contracts for student transportation for the 2025–26 school year during a regular board meeting after staff described route consolidation and an overcapacity route that leaves some students on buses longer than recommended.
Transportation Supervisor Samantha Martinez recommended approval of the contracts, noting the district relies on several private contractors to operate routes. "President Paredes, vice president Spreay, members of the board, I recommend approval of Taos Municipal Schools bus contracts" she told the board during the meeting. Board members then approved the item by roll call.
The discussion that preceded the vote focused on route consolidation taken in recent years to match ridership and staffing and on one route that remains overcapacity. Staff told the board they had left some contractor positions unfilled and that one route must be added because students on that route spend more than an hour on the bus. Staff also explained how contractor bids account for operations and maintenance — including fuel, breakdowns and pay — and said the calculation used in their packet included an operations/maintenance factor that the presenter described as roughly 20 percent of the salary amount for contracted services.
Multiple community speakers thanked drivers for long service and personal connections with students; several board members and staff relayed that appreciation to contractors and drivers. The board did not direct additional immediate changes to routes at the meeting; staff said further adjustments would depend on ridership, available staff and future budget decisions.
Action and vote: The board approved the motion to accept the transportation contracts. The transcript records a roll-call approval by the board; the motion outcome was recorded as approved. The meeting transcript did not provide a clear, consistently formatted total dollar figure for the full set of contracts; that amount is not specified here.
The contracts and route changes will affect daily ride times for some students and the district's transportation budget. Staff said they will continue to monitor ridership and route efficiency and bring additional recommendations to the board as needed.
