Middletown says DATCO contract amendment will raise costs; after-school busing tied to grant funding

The Middletown Board of Education’s budget committee was told Oct. 14 that an amendment to the district’s student-transportation contract with DATCO will increase future costs but is not expected to affect the current fiscal year’s transportation appropriation.

"We are currently in the revision of the amendment that will come before the board for review and approval," said Dr. Matos, the district superintendent. He said the board previously approved moving forward with an extension and that the amendment will affect the next three years. "The approval that the board gave me does not impact the current budget. So it will not increase anything in the amounts of transportation in this current budget."

Dr. Matos said the district expects to present the finalized amendment within the next 30 days.

Committee members also asked about after-school buses. Finance staff said the district provides busing only for grant-funded after-school programs, citing program formulas and compliance requirements. "They're provided for the grant-funded after school activities. That has been the case for the past several years," Natalie Forbes said. She listed Bealfield, Snow, Farm Hill, Middletown High School and Spencer as sites that will receive grant-funded transportation; Beaman and McDonough were discussed as pending or delayed depending on grant release.

Forbes explained that other smaller after-school enrichment programs at Lawrence, Wesley and Moody do not include transportation and that parents have historically provided transportation for those programs.

District staff said after-school busing operations depend on grant criteria, the number of participating students, available drivers and carefully budgeted routes; changing those elements can be difficult on short notice.

The committee did not vote on the DATCO amendment during this meeting; staff said the amendment will return for board review.