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Danvers says YMCA partnership and fleet changes should reduce transportation costs and add after‑school runs
Summary
The district is partnering with the YMCA to provide after‑school transportation, expects to add one bus to its fleet while removing a contracted bus, and forecasts savings on out‑of‑district transport through a consortium contract.
Danvers Public Schools outlined changes in school transportation that officials said will expand after‑school service and reduce some costs through a local partnership and fleet adjustments.
Superintendent Dr. Bauer and transportation coordinator David Pulsipher reported the district will provide buses to transport students to YMCA after‑school programs; district staff said the arrangement will run at rates below outside providers and will return revenue to the transportation program.
Pulsipher said those funds will be used in part to restore an after‑school bus for the middle school (Holden Richmond), a service the district did not budget for this year. He said one new school bus has already been purchased through warrant funding, and a second bus will be purchased after July 1 with next fiscal year funds; the plan is to add one district‑operated bus and reduce the need for one subcontracted vehicle.
The district also reported it has finalized a pilot contract to coordinate out‑of‑district transportation with neighboring districts; officials said the pilot should yield roughly a 10% savings for out‑of‑district placements next year.
Pulsipher said the district will use school vans to reduce extended school year transportation costs and expects an approximate $10,000 savings this summer. He said hiring a bus and a van driver remains a priority as the district seeks to stabilize routes and maintenance schedules.
Administrators said the district saved about $15,000 this year by using vans for athletic transportation and that consolidated route planning aims to reduce waiting lists for busing. Committee members requested year‑end calculations of savings tied to the transportation coordinator position and asked for follow‑up reports on route efficiency and contracted services.
