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Weare board accepts five-year Student Transportation of America contract, trims bus routes to 11
Summary
The Weare School Board accepted STA's five‑year transportation bid with front‑loaded annual price increases and voted to reduce regular morning/evening bus service from 12 routes to 11 to limit the first‑year budget impact.
The Weare School Board on Jan. 15 accepted a five‑year transportation contract with Student Transportation of America after a competitive, two‑bid process and approved a reduction in regular routes from 12 to 11 to reduce the first‑year cost increase.
School administrators told the board that SAU 24 solicited bids on behalf of district staff and received proposals from the incumbent, Student Transportation of America (STA), and First Student. After a transportation committee review, STA’s proposal was presented as the recommended option based on price and the district’s familiarity with the vendor.
Under the STA proposal the main daily school‑route rate would rise 10.82% in year one and 5.44% each year thereafter; district staff described those increases as actual contract rates rather than caps. District staff explained transported routes are priced per route per day and escalated based on the number of routes operated and the 180‑day school schedule.
Board members and staff discussed driver shortages and how route configuration affects costs and families. Finance staff said operating 12 routes with the front‑loaded increase would have produced an approximate $88,400 increase in year one; reducing to 11 routes cuts the year‑one net increase in the presentation to about $12,955. Board members noted the district has already been operating with fewer than 12 routes at times this school year because of driver availability.
The board then moved and approved a measure to reduce scheduled regular routes from 12 to 11 beginning with the contract term. The board also moved to accept the STA bid and proceed with contracting under the terms presented.
District officials said the contract allows the district to add or remove routes after the contract starts, and that special‑education, athletic and field‑trip transport costs will also be affected by the new rates but may vary by case.
District staff said they will continue to monitor driver staffing and bring adjustments to the board if service or safety considerations require changes.
Ending: The STA contract and the route‑reduction decision will be reflected in the district’s final adopted budget and in operational planning for the coming school year; the board did not set a separate public‑ballot item for this contract and expects to fund the contract through the adopted budget.
