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Bossier board approves $12.50-per-run pay for bus drivers covering emergency routes
Summary
The board approved a $12.50 per run payment for bus drivers covering emergency-response (ER) routes, with staff estimating an annual cost of about $60,000–$65,000 and a planned start in January; transcript includes differing statements about whether runs are voluntary or assigned.
The Bossier Parish School Board approved a plan to compensate bus drivers $12.50 per ER (emergency-response) run after a presentation on transportation staffing and route coverage.
District staff explained ER plans are additional routes drivers cover when the district lacks operators; counts vary from as few as five to as many as 30 on a single morning. The presenter said the compensation would be paid at $12.50 per run, with morning and evening runs counted separately. Staff estimates the annual cost at roughly $60,000 to $65,000 and proposed beginning payments in January; the transportation office will attempt to absorb as much of the cost as possible within its budget.
Board members voiced support for compensating drivers who cover extra routes. Mister Bullard said the board needs to reward drivers who take on additional routes. A board member noted concerns about abuse of leave policy and the need to fairly compensate employees who step in. During the discussion one participant stated that some runs are assigned rather than voluntary: "Those are not voluntary. They are told they have to cover those," creating an operational clarification for staff to resolve.
A motion to approve the compensation plan moved (first by Mister Bertrand) and was seconded by Mister Wiggins; the board approved the motion by show of hands and verbal ayes. The board did not take a roll-call vote by name.
Staff provided average-run duration data during the discussion to estimate cost and operational impact, but the board asked staff to continue working on the implementation details and budget offsets.
