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Burrillville committee endorses mirror resolution to ease school‑transportation rules, expand van capacity
Summary
The committee voted to file a mirror resolution supporting bills to raise passenger‑van capacity from eight to 10 and to accept out‑of‑state driver certification for school transportation, aiming to reduce costs and expand the driver pool.
The Burrillville School Committee voted May 13 to file a mirror resolution modeled on North Smithfield’s transportation resolution. The resolution supports two legislative changes: raising the permitted capacity of passenger vans used for student transportation from eight to 10 people, and allowing reciprocal recognition of out‑of‑state driver certification to expand the pool of qualified drivers.
Dr. Solito said the measures are intended to lower transportation costs and ease driver shortages, noting that reciprocal certification was temporarily used during the COVID‑19 period when the governor temporarily waived certain requirements. Committee members voted to adopt the mirror resolution; Dr. Solito said the committee will substitute Burrillville for North Smithfield and the chair will sign the document before sending it to other school committees, town councils and the General Assembly.
The motion passed by voice vote. Committee members said it could help restore routes that have been cut and reduce costs, particularly where regional providers recruit drivers from neighboring states.
