Hopkins transportation audit finds high per‑student costs; board weighs eligibility, bell‑time and fee options amid $7M budget gap

An outside audit presented to the Hopkins School Board on March 25 found the district’s transportation operation is costly and inefficient relative to peers, and offered three broad ways to cut expenses: expand no‑bus (ineligible) zones, introduce a pay‑to‑ride program for noneligible riders, or revise bell times to allow buses to run multiple trips.

The audit, performed by CESO Transportation, found Hopkins runs 116 vehicles — 55 general‑education buses, 32 special‑education buses and 29 vans — transporting about 4,600 general‑education students daily (approximately 65% of enrollment). The consultants reported an overall cost per student of about $2,018, “which is significantly higher than most districts in the state of Minnesota,” CESO’s Nikki Pangrel said. By contrast, she said auditors typically see about $1,000 per student in comparable districts. Pangrel also said the district’s average planned students per bus is 44 and the average regular‑education trip time is about 33 minutes.

Why it matters: Hopkins faces a projected $7 million budget reduction for fiscal year 2026 and the transportation line item is one of the largest controllable expenses in the district budget. Staff and consultants told the board that changes to eligibility rules and bell times could remove buses from service and produce savings large enough to materially narrow the gap.

Key findings and figures

- Fleet and ridership: 116 total vehicles (55 general education buses, 32 special‑education buses, 29 vans); roughly 4,600 regular‑education riders daily. Pangrel: “Hopkins transports 4,600 regular education students daily, which is approximately 65% of your total enrollment.” - Open‑enrollment riders: 678…