District contractor reports routing gains, cleaner start times and new alternative vehicles; utility limits slow electric bus use

Joe Kunkel, head of the district's contracted transportation provider, presented an end-of-year report and plans for 2025'26 Monday to the Monticello Public School District board.

Kunkel said the contractor received workplace and industry recognition last year and highlighted operational changes implemented with the district, including revised start times and consolidated routing that reduced total miles driven by approximately 115,000 miles year-over-year. "The average time riding on a bus is less," he said, and he credited changes in routing and start times with a noticeable decline in discipline referrals on some campuses.

Kunkel provided specific referral counts: at Eastview referrals fell from 112 (59 repeat offenders) in 2024 to 33 (9 repeat offenders) in 2025; the middle school declined from 169 (68 repeat offenders) to 102 (36 repeat offenders). He said older students assisting younger riders on consolidated k'12 routes contributed to improved behavior.

On fleet changes, Kunkel said the contractor added one electric van (about an 80-mile range per charge), one electric bus and one propane bus. He reported a utility-level obstacle for charging the electric bus: the local power provider would not supply the higher-capacity service needed to charge it at the contractor's site, so the vehicle will be used as a spare until charging infrastructure is arranged. "We are still struggling with Excel to get power to charge it," he said, referring to the utility. Kunkel also noted propane fueling logistics require driving to off-site suppliers.

Kunkel described an initiative to remove all students from the transportation database and require re-registration; of roughly 4,200 students the contractor expects to be eligible for service, 2,213 had registered at the time of the presentation. He said the registration cleanup will allow the contractor to optimize routing and eliminate unnecessary vehicles.

Kunkel also introduced a new 15-passenger-style activity vehicle the contractor bought under a provision that allows district employees to operate such vehicles with a class C license if they have a DOT physical; the contractor suggested the bus could be used for small athletic or activity trips instead of hiring a full-size yellow bus.

Kunkel warned that state patrol vehicle inspections moved to a pass/fail standard in 2025 and that some vehicles failed for relatively minor items under the new procedures. He said his team will send mechanics to state patrol training to better understand the updated inspection standards.

Board members asked questions about routing refinements and special-needs routing coordination; Kunkel said ongoing collaboration between the contractor, special education coordinators and school staff has improved efficiency and reuse of vehicles. There was no board action associated with the presentation.

The presentation also noted career-exploration and internship activities run by the contractor, a lifetime achievement award for company owner Gordy Hoglund and a profile of a female mechanic, Megan, who was featured in industry press.