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Board hears first reading of transportation contract to serve McKinney-Vento students
Summary
The district presented a one-year, zero-based contract with Benchmark Transportation to provide flexible and after-hours routes for students identified under the McKinney-Vento Act; the item was presented for first reading and will return for action later.
Jill Minnick, chief finance and operations officer for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, presented a recommended one-year agreement with Benchmark Transportation to expand capacity for students identified under the McKinney-Vento Act. Minnick said the contract uses a zero-based model so the district pays only for services used and emphasized the provider offers after-hours service that some current providers lack.
Minnick said the district identified 130 students qualifying for McKinney-Vento services in the 2023-24 school year and provided transportation for 70 of them; so far this school year the district has identified 95 students with 40 currently receiving transportation services. "This is a federal rule, that we enroll our students, but also that we transport them," Minnick said, describing the need to ensure homeless students have equitable access to school and extracurricular activities.
Funding and scope: Minnick said costs for the contract would be funded with Title I grant dollars and at-risk (section 31) state allocations and would not impact the general fund. She described a 50/50 reimbursement arrangement with other districts when temporary housing crosses district lines and noted that Benchmark's fee schedule includes mileage, wait-time and load fees that differ from standard yellow-bus contracts because specialized routing and after-hours service are more customized.
Board questions: Trustees asked how many providers currently serve McKinney-Vento families (staff said two providers now, Benchmark would be a third and the district is exploring a fourth), whether Title I funds would be in jeopardy in a federal shutdown (staff said Title I dollars for this year are assured, while other title grants may be at risk for next fiscal year), and whether McKinney-Vento services include school-of-choice students (staff said any student identified as homeless is covered). Minnick said more detailed fee schedules and operational terms are in section 9 of the draft contract.
Next step: The item was presented as a first reading; trustees asked clarifying questions and staff said the contract will return for action after additional vetting and committee review.
Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Jill Minnick and district staff during the board meeting.
