Board approves three-year transportation contract after limited RFP responses; district cites driver pay and cost constraints

The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors on March 11 voted to approve a three-year transportation contract with the district's incumbent provider after the district received limited responses to its request for proposals.

Mitch Lingo, who chaired the Operations committee that reviewed the RFP, told the board the district solicited bids for a three-year contract and had three parties initially indicate interest; one vendor withdrew and one declined to submit a response. Lingo said the district’s market size makes it difficult to attract multiple bus providers and that the recommended contract remains with the current vendor.

Lingo told the board the contract includes an increase of roughly 4% per year (with a larger jump in one year of the contract) and said district negotiators hope the change will help improve pay for bus drivers. He also said the district has evaluated operating buses in-house and found that purchasing and maintaining buses and hiring mechanics and related oversight personnel is cost-prohibitive.

Director Sean Eyestone added that the district and the provider have worked to strengthen operational collaboration with drivers and address feedback raised earlier this year by bus drivers and their representatives.

MOTION AND VOTE: A motion to approve the transportation RFP and contract carried; online voting showed the motion passed with all directors voting in favor.

Nut graf: The board approved a three-year contract that preserves continuity of student transportation service in a market with limited vendor capacity while acknowledging higher costs intended to support driver recruitment and retention.

Next steps: The contract will be implemented by Operations staff in collaboration with the vendor; the board expects continued attention to driver pay and operational collaboration.