Peoria Unified outlines corrective actions for transportation: recruitment, external vendors and pilot ID cards

Peoria — Peoria Unified officials told the governing board on Feb. 13 they are working through a corrective‑action plan for the district’s transportation challenges, emphasizing driver recruitment, short‑term use of contractors and a pilot of electronic ridership cards ahead of a broader rollout.

At the meeting, district leaders said recruitment has reduced open runs — at the start of the school year there were nine double runs; by Feb. 13 just one double run remained in the afternoon — and one driver had passed the commercial driver’s license (CDL) test that day. Transportation Director Matt Molino said the district is holding meetings with drivers at multiple levels — large group sessions, small groups and one‑on‑one meetings — and coordination with hiring and payroll is underway.

To address both safety and accountability, the district plans to pilot student bus‑ridership ID cards on three buses at three different schools by spring break, with districtwide implementation planned for August if the pilot proves successful. “We are forming a comprehensive plan that we will bring back to the board either at the February or the meeting in March to address staffing and compensation,” Molino said. He added the district is also assessing whether contracted fleet providers have available capacity to run routes and at what cost.

Board reaction Board members pressed for frequent updates on the ID‑badge pilot, asked for clarity on contractual costs if contractors cover routes, and urged careful consideration of driver working hours and rest requirements. Several board members asked the district to consider attendance incentives and to make any procedural changes transparent to the bus workforce.

Public comment and staff response A current and former driver who spoke at the meeting asked that the district follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidance on hours‑of‑service and posted materials for drivers. Molino said the district will compare state Department of Public Safety rules with federal guidance and provide training to front offices and transportation supervisors on any policy clarifications.

Next steps District staff will return with a written corrective action plan that includes compensation proposals, recruitment incentives, an implementation timeline for the ID‑card pilot, and a projection for using private contract services where needed. The board asked for status reports on the pilot before a districtwide rollout.