The Park Ridge Community Consolidated School District 64 Board of Education voted to authorize an emergency amendment to its transportation contract with Safeway Transportation Services Corp, approving Resolution No. 1382 to keep bus service in place after the vendor demanded higher rates.

During discussion, district leadership said Safeway notified the district it would either accept higher payment or terminate service. “We're either gonna walk or you have to pay us more money. Called extortion,” district leadership said, characterizing the vendor's demand as a hard ultimatum. Administration said the district secured a written letter from Safeway agreeing to provide service through the end of this school year and drafted a supplemental contract to document that commitment.

Administration estimated the immediate added cost for the remainder of the school year at about $261,000. “The total cost difference is estimated at 261,000 roughly, for the rest of the school year,” a district staff member stated during the meeting. The district also told the board it has opened a competitive bidding process for a three‑year contract (a mandatory pre‑bid meeting drew 11 companies) and hopes to award a new contract at the next board meeting.

Board members discussed legal options but were advised by counsel that suing a provider who terminated service could leave the district without buses during a lengthy legal process. The resolution was moved, seconded and approved by roll-call vote.

The board approved the emergency amendment under Resolution No. 1382; the motion was seconded and passed by the board. The district said it will continue the bid process, evaluate proposals on factors beyond price, and report back at the next meeting.