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Ozark R-VI board approves overtime pay, part‑time health benefits and pay adjustments to shore up bus staffing
Summary
The Ozark R‑VI School Board unanimously approved a transportation package including overtime in lieu of comp time, offering health insurance to part‑time employees who work 25+ hours, and modest salary schedule changes and job‑description updates intended to recruit and retain drivers.
The Ozark R‑VI School Board on a unanimous vote approved a transportation package intended to reduce overtime strain and recruit more bus drivers.
The board approved moving from comp‑time to overtime pay, offering health insurance to part‑time employees who work at least 25 hours a week, and a limited set of salary‑schedule changes and job‑description updates for dispatcher/trainer roles. Board members said the combination is meant to make the district more competitive with neighboring districts that already offer benefits.
Transportation staff presented calculations showing an annual overtime‑cost estimate of “just over $106,000,” and an estimated annual benefits cost of about $6,700 per newly insured part‑time employee. “That estimation would be for just over $106,000 and please note that’s annually,” said a district finance presenter. Staff also described scenarios based on varying take‑up rates and noted some part‑time employees already have coverage through spouses or other plans and therefore would not enroll.
Officials said the measures are intended both to retain current staff and attract retirees and others who value benefits. “If we could, we’d like to attract a group of people between the ages of 55 and social‑security age that are retired from their first job,” a transportation presenter said, arguing benefits are especially valuable to that pool of potential hires.
The board also approved changing two job descriptions to 260 days for a driver trainer/dispatcher role and modestly adjusting certain supervisor positions on the salary schedule to match supervision responsibilities. Staff estimated the job‑description and column changes would add several thousand dollars to the budget.
Board members pressed staff for follow‑up analysis on take‑up rates and the net fiscal impact over multiple years. The board voted to approve the package as presented and directed staff to return with additional details as part of implementation planning. The board’s motion to approve the transportation items passed unanimously.
