Brainerd board approves one-year bus contract despite concerns over $5,000 increase and route cuts

The Brainerd Public School District Board of Education on Monday approved a one-year transportation contract for 2025'1 with the district's bus contractor after heated discussion about costs and route reductions.

Board members said the revised contract is an improvement from the contractor's initial offer but repeated concerns that the district faces limited options while preparing for the school year. Director Ward, who led the discussion, said the revised proposal was "an improvement" compared with the contractor's original offer but remained unsuitable given the district's budget situation and potential service cuts. "We're going to have to talk about cuts sometime," Ward said.

Board members and staff discussed a projected $5,000 net cost increase under the revision and noted that the…