Trustees approve special-education route and staff, multiple bus purchases; table Rotary fee-waiver review

HAILEY, Idaho — The Blaine County School District No. 61 Board of Trustees on Oct. 14 approved several transportation purchases and staffing additions intended to reduce student wait times and support special-education services, while tabling a community-campus fee-waiver request for further policy review.

Board members voted to add an additional special-education bus route that the district said will require hiring two positions — one bus driver and one bus monitor — to serve students at Katy Elementary, Wood River Middle School and Wood River High School. Director Castro told trustees the new route and hires would shorten long waits for high-need students who have been arriving to school late and sometimes waiting at the end of the day. The motion passed by voice vote.

The board also approved reissuing a request for proposals (RFP) for a district activity bus, following a finance-committee review of fleet needs and a revised 10-year replacement schedule. Dr. Mansour told trustees the committee concluded an activity bus is a district need and that the updated funding model would push some handicap-bus purchases later so the district could add one activities bus; that reworked schedule modeled about $5.6 million in bus spending over 10 years and anticipated increased depreciation reimbursements to offset future…