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Centennial board approves $3.70-per-hour raise for current bus drivers amid budget and quorum questions
Summary
On Sept. 30, 2025, Centennial School District approved a $3.70 hourly increase for current CDL drivers and raised starting pay for new hires to $30 per hour effective Oct. 4. The estimated cost is $275,000; the motion passed with 4 yes and 3 abstentions and prompted discussion about budget deficits, staff equity and parliamentary thresholds.
The Centennial School District Committee of the Whole on Sept. 30, 2025, approved agenda item 3.9 to increase current CDL drivers’ hourly rate by $3.70 and raise the starting rate for newly hired drivers to $30 per hour, effective Oct. 4, 2025. District administrators estimated the change will cost about $275,000; the board approved the measure after a roll-call vote that resulted in four affirmative votes and three abstentions.
The vote tally recorded during the meeting included: Mr. Ginhardt — yes; Dr. McGuire — yes; Mrs. Crosson — abstain; Mrs. Francato — yes; Mr. Godickson — yes; Mr. Sadowski — abstain (pending more discussion); Mr. Martin — abstain. The clerk announced the motion passed with four yes votes and three abstentions.
Board members and residents who spoke during public comment framed the pay increase as a response to staffing shortages and recruitment pressures. Bill Brandenberger, identified in public comment as a Centennial school bus driver, said raising pay would improve recruitment and relieve staffing pressures that currently have mechanics and office staff filling driver roles. Resident Mike Paduto urged the board to seek district revenue and said other departments should be considered in future compensation changes.
Some board members urged caution. One board member noted the district faces a roughly $4 million deficit and argued for a phased approach or a broader compensation strategy that would include bus aides, cafeteria staff and other support employees. Another board member described the increase as a 15% raise and said that some other transportation department employees were not included in the action.
The board also debated whether four affirmative votes constituted a valid majority for a nine-member board. Several members asked for solicitor guidance. Tom Greenwood, Chief Financial Officer, reported that he reached the district solicitor, who advised that a majority of votes cast by members present constitutes the required threshold for this kind of personnel action and that the vote would be valid because the action was not a budget adoption, debt incurrence, or other vote that would require a different threshold.
Administrators noted the district expects some of the cost to be offset by revenue from the newly approved bus stop-arm camera program, which the board approved separately. The board directed administration to continue exploring broader compensation strategies for other support staff as the support-staff agreement and future budget discussions advance.
