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Board awards regular education transportation contract to First Student; districts to pilot onboard scanning for students
Summary
Community High School District 99 approved a multi-district transportation contract with First Student covering roughly 140 routes and 80 buses and asked that the company install bus boarding scanning to create ridership records for students.
Community High School District 99 voted to award its regular-education transportation contract to First Student, continuing a partnership that covers routes shared with two neighboring elementary districts and that the board said has delivered cost savings over the past decade.
The motion to award the contract passed unanimously. "We have about 140 routes that we work with ... and there's about 80 buses. So it's pretty complex," said Jareek, a district staff member who presented the item.
Nut graf: The contract continues a regional routing model the district has used with neighboring districts (districts 58 and 68) and includes an explicit request for enhanced onboard scanning technology to improve route efficiency and, in time, student onboarding records. District staff said the technology will allow students to scan on board so the district and parents can confirm which students rode a bus on a given day.
During discussion, administrators said the bid process began last fall and that the multi-district collaboration has produced savings. Board members asked about bus arrival timing at dismissal, the technology vendor (First Student will manage the system), and whether younger elementary students would have IDs to scan. Presenters said First Student already offers parent tracking via an app (FirstView) and the new tech would extend scanning to elementary riders.
Formal action: The board approved the award to First Student by voice vote (mover: Michael Riske; seconder: Chris Espinosa). The board also discussed operational matters including staggered route timing and the early-year delays that can occur when adult pick-up is required for kindergarten riders.
