Forest Lake Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Massey told the board Thursday that multiple factors — a bus-routing software merger, opt-in form handling and a postcard mailing issue — caused a number of families to start the school year without assigned bus routes.

Massey said district transportation and the vendor worked through the week and that staff remained on site early mornings and late evenings to resolve problems. “We spent the week working until 08:30, 09:00, 09:30 at the bus garage,” he said, and singled out employees who staffed routes and took calls. Board members praised staff for calling families directly; one parent board member described an evening phone call from a transportation staffer assuring her that the district was correcting a missing route.

Massey said the district is considering moving away from paper bus cards and toward an electronic bus app to deliver route assignments directly to families. He also noted the district had several families who failed to submit required opt-in forms but nonetheless expected bus service. The superintendent said the district plans to communicate opt-in reminders more visibly in the future and to consider multiple reminders to avoid similar gaps.

The board also heard that the district increased substitute pay earlier this summer and has already gained additional substitute teachers as a result. Dr. Massey said nearly 20 additional substitutes signed up after the rate was raised and that the district is monitoring the gap between substitute and starting pay to avoid compressing compensation scales.

Ending: Board members thanked transportation staff for long hours and the superintendent said the district will pursue electronic distribution of bus assignments and additional opt-in reminders for families ahead of next year.