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 purchases. The motion to reissue the RFP passed.

Trustees approved purchasing two conventional 71-passenger buses from Western Mountain Bus and Auto Sales, with delivery estimated about 18 months after order and payment due on delivery, and they approved ordering a 14-passenger minibus plus a Ford Transit and a Ford Ranger for fleet replacement. Director Metzler said bids were limited but consistent with expectations; the motions passed by voice vote.

In staffing actions, the board approved hiring two paraprofessionals for special education on one-year assignments to meet students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements. Director Castro explained how the district balances Medicaid reimbursements, Progressive Behavioral Systems (PBS) agency staffing and direct hires: for the 2024–25 school year the district received about $425,000 in Medicaid reimbursements related to billable special-education services and is budgeting roughly $38,844 to help cover unreimbursed costs in the current year.

Castro provided several hourly figures used in the district’s analysis: a behavioral-intervention specialist showed a Medicaid reimbursement rate of $59.75 per hour and a district cost estimate of $36.39 per hour for a direct hire (part-time without full benefits). For personal-care staffing, Medicaid reimbursement listed at $17.96 per hour against a district cost estimate of $36.39 per hour; Castro said the district would use the roughly $38,844 budgeted difference to cover shortfalls for those roles if necessary. The board approved the paraprofessional hires by voice vote.

Other formal actions: trustees authorized opening collective-bargaining negotiations with the Blaine County Association (BCA) for the 2026–27 school year, and they ratified the administration’s decision to place an employee identified in the meeting as “Employee A” on administrative leave; both actions were approved by the board. The facility-use fee-waiver request from the Hayden Rotary Club was discussed at length and tabled to November so staff and a small trustee group can propose policy revisions for consistent fee-waiver standards; the motion to table carried.

Votes at a glance

- Additional special-education bus route (hire 1 driver, 1 monitor): approved (voice vote). - Reissue activity-bus RFP: approved (voice vote). - Purchase 2 conventional 71-passenger buses (Western Mountain Bus & Auto Sales): approved (voice vote). - Purchase 1 minibus (14-passenger), 1 Ford Transit and 1 Ford Ranger (fleet replacements): approved (voice vote). - Approve hiring 2 paraprofessionals for special education (one-year assignments): approved (voice vote). - Approve opening negotiations with Blaine County Association for 2026–27: approved (voice vote). - Facility-use fee-waiver request (Hayden Rotary Club): tabled to November; trustees directed staff to draft policy revisions and assigned a small review group. - Ratify placing Employee A on administrative leave: approved (voice vote following executive session).

Why this matters

The transportation approvals aim to address long student wait times for special-education riders and to modernize the district fleet while preserving depreciation funding to support future purchases. The paraprofessional hires respond to legally required services under students’ IEPs and to temporary shortages of contracted agency staff. The facility-fee discussion prompted trustees to seek clearer, consistent criteria for waivers so the district does not set an ad hoc precedent.

What trustees said and next steps

Trustee Turner pressed staff on funding and reimbursement details for special-education staffing; Director Castro walked through Medicaid billing, Progressive Behavioral Systems’ role, and the district’s maintenance-of-effort and IDEA funding structure. Trustees asked staff to return with policy options on facility fees at the November meeting. Staff expect bus deliveries to be 8–18 months after order dates depending on vehicle type and vendor schedules.